Jacki Speer headlines a strong returning cast for CCC preseason favorite Southern Oregon.
SOU Favored to Win 2008-09 CCC Women's Basketball Crown
PORTLAND, Ore. – Defending Cascade Collegiate Conference co-champion Southern Oregon University, which set a school record with 29 wins last season, is the preseason choice of the league’s head coaches to win the 2008-09 CCC regular season title, the league office announced Monday.
The Raiders received eight of 11 first-place votes in preseason balloting of the league’s coaches. SOU totaled 117 points to finish ahead of College of Idaho (103), Oregon Tech (91), Eastern Oregon and Concordia (89 each).
Four schools received first-place votes: Southern Oregon, Oregon Tech, Eastern Oregon and Concordia.
Last year, Southern Oregon shared the CCC regular season title, captured the CCC tournament championship, and advanced to the NAIA Tournament on way to posting a 29-5 overall record. The Raiders set a host of school records in 2007-08, including standards for scoring average (77.8), points (2,333), rebounds (1,378) and 3-point field goals made (189). SOU finished fifth in the nation in scoring and eighth in the nation in scoring margin.
Fourth-year SOU head coach Lynn Kennedy, the CCC’s Coach of the Year last season, returns 11 letterwinners and four starters from a year ago, including first team all-conference selection Jacki Speer, a 6-2 junior forward who averaged 13.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. Speer was also named to the CCC’s All-Defensive team.
College of Idaho returns three starters and 10 letterwinners, including senior forward Christon Vander Esch (12.2 ppg, 7.9 rpg), who was named the CCC’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2007-08. Other top returnees for eighth-year head coach Reagan Rossi include junior guard Whitney Owen, senior guard ShaNae Horner and junior guard Kayla Brewer.
Oregon Tech returns eight letterwinners, including senior forward Amanda Johnston, the CCC’s Newcomer of the Year last season, as well as senior point guard Meagan Miyasaka, who ranked 11th nationally in assist-turnover ratio a year ago.
Eastern Oregon, which shared the CCC regular season title with SOU last year and won its first-round game at the NAIA Tournament, returns senior Jenny Fiso (7.4 ppg), junior Salena Leavitt (6.4 ppg) and senior Breana Olson (6.0 ppg).
Concordia’s top returnee is forward Danielle Clauson, the CCC’s Freshman of the Year in 2007-08 who averaged 13.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
2008-09 CCC Preseason Coaches' Poll
| Place |
Institution |
Points |
2007-08 Overall |
2007-08 CCC |
| 1 |
Southern Oregon (8) |
118 |
29-5 |
17-3 |
| 2 |
College of Idaho |
103 |
19-11 |
14-6 |
| 3 |
Oregon Tech (1) |
91 |
23-9 |
14-6 |
| 4 |
Eastern Oregon (1) |
89 |
25-6 |
17-3 |
| 4 |
Concordia (1) |
89 |
15-16 |
11-9 |
| 6 |
Northwest Christian |
52 |
14-17 |
8-12 |
| 7 |
Cascade |
47 |
15-17 |
7-13 |
| 8 |
Corban |
45 |
9-21 |
5-15 |
| 9 |
Evergreen |
44 |
9-21 |
8-12 |
| 10 |
Northwest |
29 |
6-22 |
5-15 |
| 11 |
Warner Pacific |
19 |
6-23 |
4-16 |
| First place votes in parentheses |