Women's basketball measuring up against Division I

Before the season started, women's basketball coach Joan Bonvicini envisioned the Redhawks growing into a top-25 Division I program over the next few years. But seven loses into the 2009-2010 season, does she have the same goal?

"Yes I do," she said. "But right now we don't have that in place. We were dealt a tough hand."

The team has been down three starters this season, including the Redhawks' leading scorer last year, 5-foot-11-inch junior forward Breanna Salley. The university suspended Salley, along with Mercedes Alexander, a 5-foot-11-inch senior forward and Elle Kerfoot, 5-foot-7-inch sophomore guard this fall for failing to meet academic NCAA credit requirements last spring quarter.

A lack of height could also hinder the Redhawks this season. Only three players over 5-feet-10-inches are currently eligible to play.

"It's really tough because you can't coach size," said senior Cassidy Murillo, a 5-foot-7-inch guard. "We'll have to play scrappy."

Ashley Brown, a 5-foot-11-inch senior forward returning to the hardwood this year from a knee injury that kept her sidelined last season, says she's hopeful the Redhawks can overcome their shortage of towering players with a simple, strong work ethic.

"Height is very important, but it's all about desire, getting under the hoop and getting rebounds," she said. "There have been teams that have been very successful with not as much height."

The Redhawks' future success, Bonvicini said, hinges on Seattle U's ability to sign new recruits.

Though they're redshirting this season, University of Arizona transfer Amani Butler, a 5-foot-7-inch guard who received an honorable mention all-American title after her 2008-2009 season, and Washington State University transfer Salena Dickerson, a 5-foot-11-inch forward who averaged 21 points a game her senior year of high school, will both be eligible to play next season.

"I definitely foresee them becoming a really good team," Murillo said.

Also joining the Redhawks for the 2010-2011 season will be incoming freshman Ashley Ward, a 5-foot-10-inch wing from Woodbridge High School in Irvine, Calif. Ward, who averaged 18.5 points a game for her high school team, signed a National Letter of Intent to play at Seattle U in early November. Bonvicini says she predicts signing two to three more players this spring.

More playing time at KeyArena may also be in store for the Redhawks women in coming seasons, Bonvicini said.

The women's team plays four more games this season than they did last year. Unlike men's games, which will be held at KeyArena, all the women's games will be held at Connolly's 1050-seat gym.


Murillo said while she thinks it would be hard for the women's basketball team to draw a crowd large enough to pack all the seats in the KeyArena, which can hold 7,800 in the lower bowl alone. She hopes by playing on campus the team will be able to drum up more support for women's basketball.

"It's closer for students," she says. "So more people will be coming."

This winter the team will call KeyArena home for one match on Feb. 16, when they play North Dakota, a team that's gone 1-5 so far this season.

Brown said the team is especially eager for another home game: their Dec. 9 face-off with University of Washington.

"The future looks very, very bright," Bonvicini said.

The Redhawks saw their first win of the season in a 68-63 triumph over Milwaukee in the final match of the Seattle U Thanksgiving Tournament Sunday. The team hit the road this weekend to play University of California - Irvine away on Dec. 5.