USD Women's Basketball 1991

1990-1991 Season Outlook: Continuing The Climb The 1989-1990 season for the University of San Diego women's basketball team was both a banner season and a record shattering campaign. The Toreras began the climb toward national prominence in the world of women's college basketball. The USD women enter the 1990-1991 season looking to build on the success of last year's team. For the USD Toreras, the 1990-1991 season will be the season that they look to "Continue The Climb". Seven talented letter winners return to Head Coach Kathy Marpe's 1990-1991 USD Torera squad. Three starters return to this year's squad as well as the top front court reserve and three players who will battle for the two spots open in the Toreras' backcourt. The remainder of the squad consists of the four women who comprise the top recruiting class in the team's history. The strength of the Toreras will be its tall and talented front court. In 6'5" sophomore center Chris Enger, the Toreras have a player who dominated the West Coast Conference in '89-'90. Enger established new USD and WCC records in single game blocked shots (12) and rebounds (24) as well as season blocked shots (96). Her blocked shot average of 3.6 per game was the sixth best nationally. She averaged 9.9 points and 8.5 rebounds and was named to the WCC All-Conference team as well as being selected its "Freshman Of The Year". Battling Chris for the starting spot is 6'3" senior Christi English. English averaged 7.1 points and 6.5 rebounds during '89-'90 and is the number nine USD career rebounder with 368 rebounds. Both starting forwards return to the '90-'91 Toreras. Molly Hunter, a 5'1 O" senior, has been a starter since her sophomore year. Hunter, who averaged 6.0 points and 4.3 rebounds as a junior, is considered the team's top defender. Hunter will be joined at forward by 6'2" junior Lynda Jones. Jones was the number three scorer in '89-'90, averaging 9.8 points per game. She was named to the WCC Honorable Mention list following last season. Graduation took both guards who started in '88-'89 . The cupboard is not bare, however. Talented players return at each position. Each player appears quite capable and willing to step into the starting line– up. The starting point guard position has beerynanded to 5'5" sophomore Angie Straub. Straub averaged 3.4 points and 1.8 assists in her first collegiate campaign. Joining Straub in the Toreras' backcourt will be one of two juniors, Debbie Gollnick or Julie Doria. Gollnick is a deadly long-range shooter who averaged 1.3 points and 1.1 rebounds as a sophomore. Doria, equally adept at both guard spots, averaged 1.4 points and 1.2 rebounds last season. Four extremely talented newcomers with impressive credentials complete the list of 1990-1991 USD Toreras. Headlining these newcomers is 6'1" freshman Jill Shaver. Shaver, an All-American from Albuquerque NM's El Dorado HS, is considered an impact type player. She will see much action at both small forward and shooting guard. Melisa Sortino, a 5'7" freshman from Marina HS in Huntington Beach CA, was an AII-CIF selection in her senior year in high school. She will back up Straub at point guard and may also swing over to the shooting guard spot, as well.

Two new Toreras will provide additional front court depth. Junior Ernestine "Chato" Platero was an All-Arizona Community College selection at Cochise College in Douglas AZ. The 6'1" Platero will back up Jones at the power forward spot. Detra Young, a 5'11" freshman from Pomona CA, was an All-Pacific League choice at Banning HS in Wilmington CA. She will play behind Hunter at the small forward spot. The '90-'91 season will offer many challenges for the Toreras. In addition to its annual trek through the West Coast Conference, USD will face home contests with the likes of UNLV, Colorado, Texas Tech and Wyoming. The Toreras will face road tests at Arizona State, Arizona and Cal State Fullerton as well as at the Converse Classic at Oregon State. The Toreras will also attempt to defend their San Diego City Championship in a November clash with cross-town rival San Diego State. What kind of season will it be for the Toreras? All the pieces are in placeforabannerseason. Thequestwillcontinuein '90-'91 as the USD Toreras look to "Continue The Climb". It should be an interesting quest.

Angie Straub

6