Central women hope to get healthy

YAKIMA — It already figured to be a rebuilding year for Central Washington’s women.

Now, coach Jeff Whitney said, it’s become a rehabbing year, too.

“You hate to say that, but we all kind of knew that with all the new faces we had and what we lost, that it was going to be that way,” Whitney said of rebuilding. “But now with all the injuries, it’s become even a more difficult situation.”

The Wildcats, who started 9-0 last season but skidded to a 13-13 finish that included only one road win after the perfect getaway, were picked seventh in a preseason poll of GNAC coaches.

Central 1-6 after an 0-6 start that extended its losing streak to nine games dating back to last season, has been largely without four key players for at least part of the early schedule.

Amanda Murdoch, a junior transfer from Eastern Wash-ington, has been slowed by a stress fracture in her foot, though she scored 18 points in CWU’s Nov. 23 win over Western State (Colo.). Jenn Jacobs has been idled by back and eligibility problems, senior Stephanie Wenke has sustained two concussions and Brooke Fernandez has been lost for the season with a knee injury.

“Those are all my scorers,” Whitney said.

Wenke is a senior point guard, having transferred from Hope International University in Fullerton, Calif. Jacobs and Fernandez played on last year’s team that was led by departed seniors Elyse Maras and Hanna Hull.

Left in their absence to carry the load this season are junior Shaina Afoa, the lone starter from last year’s squad, who at 6-foot-1 provides an inside presence.

Hilary Tanneberg, a 6-2 senior, plays at power forward and is still recovering from a fractured hand suffered in an exhibition last month against Eastern. Whitney said she’s been the team’s most consistent player so far.

The leading scorer so far has been LeeAna Busch, a 6-2 junior, at eight points a game. Another frontline regular has been C’Era WalkingChild, a 6-0 redshirt freshman from Seattle’s Kennedy High School.

Returning senior Tanna Radtke has started at shooting guard with Wenke, when healthy, playing the point. Freshman Sophie Russell from River Ridge High School near Lacey has played well, Whitney said, and figures to get substantial minutes.

“These girls are playing hard,” Whitney said. “But you have to have all your pieces together to win at this level, and right now we’re still putting our pieces together.”

CENTRAL WASHINGTON WOMEN’S ROSTER

Stayza Albrecht, 5-7, Jr., G, Vacaville, Calif./Portland CC; Amanda Murdoch, 5-8, Jr., Bozeman, Mont./Eastern Washington; Tanna Radtke, 5-6, Sr., G, Redmond HS/Bellevue CC; Jenn Jacobs, 5-9, So, Bremerton HS; Stephanie Wenke, 5-6, Sr., G, Anacortes HS/Hope International; Shaina Afoa, 6-1, Jr., Dimond HS, Anchorage, Alaska; Sophie Russell, 5-10, Fr., G-F, River Ridge HS; Nicole Jordan, 6-0, Sr., G-F, Marysville-Pilchuck HS/Everett CC/ Hawaii Pacific; Sara Bergner, 5-10, Jr., G, Bellingham HS/Whatcom CC; C’Era WalkingChild, 6-0, Fr., Kennedy HS; LeeAna Busch, 6-2, Jr., F-C, Sehome HS/Northwest Nazarene; Hilary Tanneberg, 6-2, Sr., Liberty (Issaquah) HS/Montana.

Head coach: Jeff Whitney. Assistants: Amber Hall, Rachael Ziemann, Brooke Fernandez.

Remaining schedule

December — 12, at San Francisco State; 13, at Academy of Art, San Francisco; 18-19, at Great Western Shootout, vs. Dixie State, vs. Quincy University.

January — 10, *#Northwest Nazarene; 15, *at Western Washington; 17, *at Seattle Pacific; 22, *#Montana State Billings; 24, *at Saint Martin’s; 31, *#Western Washington.

February — 5, *#Seattle Pacific; 7, *at Western Oregon; 12, *at Alaska Fairbanks; 14, *at Alaska Anchorage; 18, *#Saint Martin’s; 21, *at Montana State Billings; 26, *%Alaska Anchorage; 28, *%Alaska Fairbanks.

March — 5, *at Northwest Nazarene; 7, *&Western Oregon; 13-16, NCAA Division II West Regional; 25-28, NCAA Division II Elite Eight.

* — GNAC game, # — 7 p.m., % — 5:15 p.m., & — 2 p.m.

Filed under Area sports, Basketball (CWU W), CWU, Colleges