Oregon State Beavers 2006-07 Women’s Basketball Season Preview

Under first year head coach LaVonda Wagner, Oregon State’s players learned to believe in themselves and in each other, allowing their monumental turnaround last year to be capped off by a trip to the postseason WNIT.

Photo: OSU Athletics

CORVALLIS - Pride. Commitment. Dedication. Teamwork. Each of these words describe the characteristics that Oregon State second-year head coach LaVonda Wagner instills in her student-athletes. A sense of ownership is the key in the Wagner philosophy – ownership on the court and ownership in life.

It was Wagner who instilled a resounding belief in her players upon her arrival in Corvallis that led the 2005-06 team to a 16-15 overall record – a 10-game improvement from the previous year. That same squad was predicted to finish last in the Pacific-10 Conference standings, a spot they held during the 2004-05 season, but responded under Wagner’s leadership to earn a 7th place finish.

With one year successfully under her belt, Wagner and her staff continue the commitment to excellence needed in bringing Oregon State to the upper echelon of the Pac-10.

Six new faces dot the OSU roster for the 2006-07 campaign and one thing is certain, when the youthful Beaver squad hits the hardwood they must find amongst themselves the pride and commitment to work hard and rely upon their cohesive play as a unit in order to be successful.

"We will be a young team and must find a way to be consistent,” said Wagner. “The goal is to get the returners to step up and the freshman class to contribute right away.”

Heading the list of returning players is senior guard Casey Nash (Stayton, OR). Known for her hustle and rebounding prowess, Nash has led the Beavers in rebounds the past two seasons, including a career-best average of 7.2 boards per game last year. Nash is also the team’s top returning scorer after averaging 7.0 points per outing as a junior. A versatile and experienced player (has seen action in 89 career games), the 6-1 guard has the ability to play either facing the basket or with her back to it and will be relied heavily upon to contribute major minutes in the lineup.

Adding leadership both on and off the court, redshirt senior guard Ebony Young (Oakland, CA) also returns for her final season in the Orange and Black. Young’s positive attitude and resilience while battling injuries throughout her career have given strength and leadership to her teammates. She made the most of her minutes in 2005-06 and can add an immediate spark off the bench.

Junior transfer Ashley Allen (Fresno, CA) joins the Oregon State ranks after playing two seasons at Pac-10 and in-state rival University of Oregon. Allen is versed in the Wagner system after practicing with the Beavers during the 2005-06 campaign. The 5-10 guard brings Pac-10 experience to the lineup as well as speed and excellent ball-handling skills.

The lone sophomore on the team is 5-8 guard Mercedes Fox-Griffin (La Jolla, CA). Fox-Griffin is the only returning player to have seen action at the point guard position after coming off the bench for 29 games a year ago. She dished out 40 assists and pulled down 44 rebounds in her Beaver debut.

A total of five freshmen make up the initial recruiting class in Wagner’s tenure and all five players will be asked to make an immediate impact on the court.

Forward Stacey Nichols (Beaverton, OR) joins Oregon State after graduating from one of the top high school programs in the state at Southridge. When the 6-1 Nichols signed her initial letter of intent in November, she became the first Oregon Class 4A signee for the Beavers since Hollye Holbrook in 2000. A three-time All-State selection, Nichols is a versatile athlete and a proven scorer and rebounder.

Finding a home across the country, freshman forward Judie Lomax (The Bullis School) comes to Corvallis from Potomac, Mary. At 5-11, Lomax uses her strength to play larger than her size and has a knack for getting to the offensive glass as well as an ability to score. The four-time All-Independent School League selection will use her abilities to help solidify the Beavers’ interior lineup.

Whitney Champlin (Olympia, WA) rounds out the forwards in the freshman class and finds herself standing as the tallest player on the squad at 6-2. Champlin’s size will help the Beavers contend with the loss of posts Kim Butler and Karen Vickery to graduation.

A three-sport all-star standout, Julie Futch (Auburn, WA) will be counted on to contribute immediately in the Beaver backcourt. The 5-8 guard averaged 18.0 points, 8.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists as a senior at Auburn Riverside High School and is known as a smart player that distributes the ball well and can score.

Also contributing in the backcourt will be freshman guard Jasmine Smith (Pinole, CA) who is a tremendous shooter and buried a team-leading 53 3-point field goals during her senior year at Pinole Valley High School. Smith will bring speed and athleticism to the court.

The Beavers open the season with seven of their first eight games (including a pair of exhibition outings) played in the friendly confines of Gill Coliseum. The home-court advantage should help ease the transition for a team that’s still finding its identity.

“We want to build upon the improvements we made during the 2005-06 season,” said Wagner. “Our emphasis will continue to be on playing hard, playing smart and playing as a unit.”

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