USD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: NCAAs have Pac-10 feel for Toreros
USD draws first-round game against Cal at Stanford
By TOM SHANAHAN - For The North County Times | ∞
SAN DIEGO ---- Play it again, USD. One day after the University of San Diego hosted a gathering for its men's basketball team to watch the NCAA tournament selection show, the school staged a similar on-campus event for its tournament-bound women's team, this time with the men's team watching as the women waited for their name to be called.
And just like the men, the women on Monday leapt to their feet like children once "San Diego" appeared on the television screen in the bracket opposite California.
The Toreros (19-12), seeded 14th, will face third seeded and 10th-ranked Cal (26-5), Saturday at approximately 1:30 p.m. on ESPN2 at Stanford's Maples Pavilion. The matchup is part of the Greensboro Regional.
"Everyone is excited that we'll be playing in the West Coast, no matter who it's against," USD women's coach Cindy Fisher said. "Everyone probably except Ky."
That would be Ky Snyder, the USD athletic director, whose objective now is to attend NCAA tournament games on opposite coasts on consecutive days. The Toreros men play Connecticut on Friday afternoon in Tampa, Fla.
But it's a good problem to have for a school that had never previously sent both its men's and women's team to the NCAA tournament in the same season.
"The beauty of this is we can start breaking down film now that we know who we're going to play," said senior point guard Amanda Rego. "I couldn't sleep, waiting all week. But now we know we're playing at Stanford, and friends and family can come see us play."
USD earned an automatic bid by winning the West Coast Conference tournament following a third-place finish in the WCC regular season.
Cal was the runner-up to No. 4-ranked Stanford in both the Pac-10 regular season and conference tournament. The Golden Bears lost to Stanford three times, including a 56-35 setback in the tournament final.
"They're an athletic team with a lot players from California, so we've seen them in (club tournaments during the recruiting offseason) and know a little more about them than we would an East Coast team," Fisher said. "They're going to be a tough opponent, but at this point anybody is a tough opponent."
The Bears' best player is 6-foot-1 post player Ashley Walker. She led the team in scoring (15.0 points per game) and the Pac-10 in rebounding (9.3 per game). In addition to first-team All-Pac-10 honors, Walker was a second-team Sports Illustrated All-American.
Devanei Hampton, a 6-3 forward/center, joined Walker as a first-team All-Pac-10 pick, and Alexis Gray-Lawson, a 5-8 guard, was named second-team All-Pac-10. Hampton averaged 13.6 points and 8.2 rebounds, and Gray-Lawson 11.7 points.
USD played one Pac-10 team this year, defeating UCLA 63-57 on Dec. 8 at Jenny Craig Pavilion. UCLA finished tied for fourth in the Pac-10 and lost twice to Cal (73-70 in overtime and 67-53).
One player Cal would like to have, but doesn't, is Amber Sprague, USD's 6-5 junior center.
The team's leading scorer turned down Cal, among other Pac-10 schools, as a Mission Bay High student to play for the Toreros.
"They're a really good team that did well in the Pac-10," Sprague said. "We're going to have to bring it."
Comment at sports.nctimes.com.
More Stories
Advertisement
- ESCONDIDO: Man shot dead at Fourth of July party (19)
- FALLBROOK: Peruvian chocolatier living sweet American dream (12)
- TEMECULA: Parade, fireworks draw thousands on nation's birthday (11)
- CARLSBAD: Golf benefit raises $20,000 for Conner's Cause (9)
- SAN PASQUAL VALLEY: Animal park offering extended hours, extra shows and activities (7)
Advertisement
Videos
Calendar of Events
- MapFood addicts group to meet : St. Michael's Church
- MapKnitting Ministry meeting : Cornerstone Community Church
- San Diego’s Largest Business Clothing Drive Benefits Local Men and Women in Job Training Programs : Mission Federal Credit Union Locations
- Lamb's Fellowship Lake Elsinore Vacation Bible School : Lamb's Fellowship Lake Elsinore
- Weekly Baseball/Softball Summer Camps : Prime Time Expos
- View all events. | Submit Event
- USA Football Player Academy : Helix High School
- Lamb's Fellowship Lake Elsinore Vacation Bible School : Lamb's Fellowship Lake Elsinore
- Career Transition Club, Carlsbad : Crossroads Spiritual Center
- Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat : Welk Resort Theatre
- San Diego’s Largest Business Clothing Drive Benefits Local Men and Women in Job Training Programs : Mission Federal Credit Union Locations
- View all events. | Submit Event
- A Day With Dr. Temple Grandin : Del Mar Country Club
- Community Wellness Check : Spartan Chiropractic Center
- USA Football Player Academy : Helix High School
- Lamb's Fellowship Lake Elsinore Vacation Bible School : Lamb's Fellowship Lake Elsinore
- Join Calico Critters Fischer Cat for Fun, Pictures and Lifelong Memories : Learning Express
- View all events. | Submit Event
- San Diego’s Largest Business Clothing Drive Benefits Local Men and Women in Job Training Programs : Mission Federal Credit Union Locations
- MapAdult women's tap class : San Marcos Community Center
- Weekly Baseball/Softball Summer Camps : Prime Time Expos
- Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat : Welk Resort Theatre
- USA Football Player Academy : Helix High School
- View all events. | Submit Event
- San Diego’s Largest Business Clothing Drive Benefits Local Men and Women in Job Training Programs : Mission Federal Credit Union Locations
- VFW - Vista Weekly Dinner Special : VFW Post 7041
- Lamb's Fellowship Lake Elsinore Vacation Bible School : Lamb's Fellowship Lake Elsinore
- Friday Night Knitting : Daily Fiber Yarn Company
- Genealogy Workshop for Beginners : Joslyn Senior Center
- View all events. | Submit Event
- Live Music at Tesoro with Tony Suraci : Tesoro Winery
- Julian Wine Tour : Menghini Winery
- Compassion Community 5K Walk : Greater Works Church
- 'Christmas in July' Artisan Fair : Mission San Luis Rey Parish
- Cinema Society of Carlsbad Library presents 'The Virtue of Risk' : Carlsbad Dove Library
- View all events. | Submit Event
- Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat : Welk Resort Theatre
- San Diego’s Largest Business Clothing Drive Benefits Local Men and Women in Job Training Programs : Mission Federal Credit Union Locations
- Carlsbad Library Summer Concert featuring 'BAYOU BROTHERS' : Georgina Cole Library
- 'Christmas in July' Artisan Fair : Mission San Luis Rey Parish
- View all events. | Submit Event
Extras
The Agnes Diggs Road to College Scholarships
Two $500 scholarships will be awarded to continuing college students. Applications are due August 7.
A Tale of Two Hospitals
Special Report: Why does Palomar thrive while Tri-City struggles to survive?





