Utah Women's Basketball Season Outlook

11/9/2009 12:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Nov. 9, 2009

The Utah women's basketball team has firmly established itself in the top tier of the Mountain West Conference over the years, but will look at a whole new set of challenges in the coming season to be there again. Although the Utes return two starters for the 2009-10 season, `youth is served' may be the dominant theme of the year with nine underclassmen taking to the court.

Senior returning starters Kalee Whipple and Halie Sawyer will have their work cut out for them in leading this young team into the season.

"They must provide an even keel," head coach Elaine Elliott said. "Whatever we face with the growth of this team, its leaders must provide the daily example for success at this level, as well as the emotional stability to handle the highs and lows.

"Both have proven skills. Kalee is as good as they get at this level. Halie has the experience and has improved steadily throughout her career. Together they can be our compass."

Six freshmen and three sophomores grace the roster for the Utes, and several will need to step in early to provide minutes and depth for the team.

"Our freshman class will be of significance in our success this year," Elliott said. "They are young and talented, but will be needed sooner than later. If would be nice if that wasn't our reality, but it is."

The Utes will be tested with a strong schedule during the non-conference season with NCAA teams Minnesota, Stanford, South Dakota State and NCAA runner-up Louisville. Things don't get easier as Utah moves into the MWC schedule. TCU and San Diego State are coming off NCAA appearances and 20-win seasons while New Mexico made a strong showing in the WNIT.

"The preseason schedule will provide consistent challenges from start to finish," Elliott said. "These tests will provide a faster learning curve and better prepare us for our league."

Wings
Whipple, a three-time All-MWC player who will contend for All-America honors at forward, already ranks 10th all-time at Utah in scoring with 1,389 career points. Last year she ranked second in the MWC in scoring (17.0 ppg) and was 10th in rebounding (6.2 rpg) as well as ranking in the top 10 in several other categories. Whipple scored in double figures in all but two games, including three games with 30 or more points. She was on the MWC All-Tournament team after scoring 21 points with seven rebounds and five assists against San Diego State in the title game. Whipple averaged 19.5 points in Utah's NCAA Tournament games.

"Whip is truly one of the top players in the country," Elliott said. "She is so well rounded at both ends of the floor."

Senior guard Sasha McKinnon has been affected by injury most of her career, but looks to have a strong senior season. Last year she scored six key points off the bench in the MWC Tournament against New Mexico.

"Sasha looks remarkably good, physically," Elliott said. "I think she can really help us win some games."

Sophomore guard Josi McDermott is in her third year with Utah after redshirting in 2007-08. Sitting out the first part of the year with an injury, she provided key minutes during the conference campaign last season. McDermott scored six points off a pair of three-pointers against New Mexico during the MWC Tournament and also played significant minutes during the NCAA Tournament run.

"Josi seems to be 100% for the first time since her surgery," Elliott said. "With increased toughness, she can provide us some quality time."

Redshirt freshman guard Iwalani Rodrigues was rated as the No. 2 overall player in the state of Hawaii and was fifth in the state in scoring as a senior (12.0 ppg). She led both Roosevelt High School (2006 and 2007) and Kalani High School (2008) to state titles.

"Iwa is a very gifted athlete and a smooth player," Elliott said. "She is, however, a true freshmen in her training, so she has much to learn."

Freshman guard Rachel Messer helped lead Thunder Ridge high school to the state semifinals in 2008 and the quarterfinals in 2009 and 2007. The all-state player was in the Colorado prep all-star game as a senior.

"Rachel is the true shooting guard we always like to have," Elliott said. "She can knock down open shots, but is also a solid guard with the ball on the floor."

Freshman guard Rita Sitivi averaged 18 points and 10.5 rebounds per game at Marina High School in 2009. She was a two-time league MVP.

"Rita seems most comfortable slashing and playing to the paint, so we may use her as a smaller "four" player in her first year," Elliott said. "She gets better each day as she adapts to the rigors of competition at this level."

Freshman guard Chelsea Bridgewater was a two-time first-team all-state player at Timpview High School in Utah. She played in the 4A All-Star game.

"Chelsea is a walk on for us, and will be asked to do everything and anything we need her to do to benefit the team," Elliott said. "She has already brought a great work ethic and has become a great teammate."

Point Guard
Sophomore point guard Janita Badon steadily gained more playing time throughout the season last year, sharing the minutes with fellow freshman Hannah Stephens (who has since transferred). She started the final four games of the season in the MWC Tournament and NCAA Tournament. Badon averaged 3.2 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game with 27 steals.

"Janita continues to improve every day, as she did last year and over the summer," Elliott said. "All aspects of her game are getting better, and she has committed to improving her shooting ability."

Junior Hennasea Tokumura sat out last year with an ACL injury but came off the bench in 25 games in 2007-08. She continues to struggle with the injury but is hopeful to be back during the season.

"Hennasea has a return in mind for Thanksgiving, but the doctors will be in charge of that," Elliott said. "It will then take some time for her to become acquainted with competition again."

Bigs
Sawyer has steadily improved each of her three years at Utah and has the potential for all-conference honors at the end of the season. Last year in her first year as a starter, she was fifth in the MWC in rebounding (7.6 per game) and finished fourth in the conference in blocks (1.21 per game). Sawyer averaged 7.1 points per game.

"I believe Halie will have her best year this year," Elliott said. "As a senior, she is ready to go."

Sophomore center Mandy Munns came off the bench in 23 games last year, averaging 1.2 points and 1.3 rebounds per game with a .409 shooting percentage.

"Mandy took this off season and decided she wanted to be a player," Elliott said. "She has lost weight and greatly improved her mobility. She is more competitive and I am very proud of what she has done between her freshman and sophomore year."

Utah added some height to its roster during the offseason with 6'4" Diana Rolniak and 6'3" Taryn Wicijowski starting their careers at Utah. Rolniak led Regis Jesuit to the 2009 5A state championship with a 24-4 record, averaging 9.1 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per game. She set a Colorado state record for career blocked shots and most blocks in a game. Wicijowski averaged 8.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game as a team captain for the Canada Junior National Team at the FIBA World U19 Championships in 2009, helping lead Canada to a fourth-place finish. She also played in the FIBA Americas U18 Championship in 2008.

"Diana is a very long athlete, which is a good addition to our team," Elliott said. "Her size and length give us some new options.

"Taryn gained valuable experience in international competition this summer. She is more ready than most to see this level of play."