USC Women Picked Fourth In Pac-10 Coaches Poll
October 23, 2007 | Women's Basketball
Oct. 23, 2007
WALNUT CREEK, CALIF. - With 11 returning players and three newcomers active for the coming 2007-08 season, the USC women's basketball team has been selected No. 4 in the Pac-10 Preseason Coaches Poll. Once again, Stanford received the top pick to win the conference title, followed by Arizona State and California, who each had a single vote cast for a first-place finish.
For the Trojans, a fourth-place finish would better a fifth-place effort from 2006-07, when USC's injury-plagued roster posted a 17-13 overall mark and went 10-8 in Pac-10 play, reaching the semifinals of the Pac-10 Tournament but missing a bid into the NCAA Tournament. USC received 56 points in the coaches' votes for this season's preseason poll, putting the Trojans 12 points below third-place California and eight points ahead of sixth-place UCLA.
For 2007-08, head coach Mark Trakh's Women of Troy has several top players finally healthy. Following hip injuries, guards Camille LeNoir and Brynn Cameron return after redshirting last season. USC also has six seniors on the roster for the season: Nicole Berberet, Kate Henderson, Allison Jaskowiak Kennedy, Simone Jelks, Markisha Lea and Lisa Yamasaki. LeNoir and Cameron return as juniors alongside Nadia Parker. Sophomores Hailey Dunham, Aarika Hughes and Morghan Medlock have transfer Heather Oliver now added to their class, and USC will have just one true freshman on the roster in Kari LaPlante. Freshman Stefanie Gilbreath will redshirt the season to heal from a knee injury. Talented guard Jacki Gemelos, who redshirted last season due to a knee injury, has reinjured that knee and will be sidelined for the season as well. Transfer Daniela Roark will sit out the season per NCAA rules.
2007-08 PAC-10 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACHES' POLL
Team Points1. Stanford (8) 792. Arizona State (1) 713. California (1) 684. USC 565. UCLA 446. Washington 417. Oregon 348. Arizona 319. Oregon State 1610. Washington State 10
(first-place votes in parentheses)
