Viking_Yearbook_93

struggles 40 ref>OA4 I^s4 3fo^r^ continued from last page “Yeah. With all the freshmen we had,” said forward Leah Cox of newcomers Kristi Smith, Katie Rose, Kim Manifesto, and Carey Rockey. “I think [we overachieved] with such a brand new team. We even had a couple of transfers coming in. And we had to start from scratch.” Their season came to an abrupt end in the West Regional championship game on March 13, losing to Cal Poly-Pomona, 59-51. But a team that was expected to struggle with all of the new faces actually came together at just the right time and made some noise in NCAA Division II women’s basketball. They continued their two-year mastery over the six-team Pacific West Conference by winning nine of 10 games, and for the second straight year captured the conference title. The Viks’ only loss came at the hands of Eastern Montana, whom they subsequently beat on Feb. 25 in the second to last game of the regular season to assure them of consecutive con­ ference titles and a return trip to the West Regional playoffs. The team entered the playoffs on a roll, winners of seven straight games. “We really clicked at the end of the season,” Cox said. “1 thought we did really well.” They beat UC-Davis in the first round, 64-61, before being ousted from the post season by Pomona just a day later. Injuries to Cox (left ankle) and Smith (broken left fibula) during the regular season depleted the Vikings’ front line, and they struggled. continued on next page Left: PSU guard Lani Hill, middle, gets tangled In an Alaski for a loose bail. Pfiplo by Sftane Young