Nowakowski to lead young Cal

By JOHNENRIETTO Eagle Sports Editor

November 11, 2006 Last Updated: November 11, 2006 12:54 PM College

Butler graduate Kim Nowakowski, who averaged 14.7 points and 10.1 rebounds per game for California (Pa.) University last season, is a big reason why a young Vulcans squad has been picked to win the PSAC West.

SLIPPERY ROCK — Being the preseason favorite to win the PSAC West is nothing new for the California (Pa.) University women's basketball program.

Being chosen to win the league with a roster featuring only one double-digit scorer is a novel concept, however.

"They picked us based on history," seventh-year coach Darcie Vincent said. "The two best players in the league belong to Shippensburg (Megan Fogle, Shanna Oaddams).

"This league has gotten young again. The coach who gets the young players to develop and produce the quickest will be successful."

Don't bet against Vincent. She is 164-30 at California, including five PSAC championships, two Elite Eight appearances and one national title.

Only one player, senior guard Dani Mills, remains from that 2004 national championship team and she is sidelined for a month with a broken finger.

Gone, too, is the Vulcans' stellar backcourt of Megan Storck and Lisa Gottuso. Storck graduated as the PSAC's all-time assists leader with 767.

That leaves Butler graduate Kim Nowakowski as California's prime returnee. Now a junior, she averaged 14.7 points and 10.1 rebounds per game a year ago.

"This is Kim's team and she has to realize that,"Vincent said. "She's capable of scoring 20 to 25 points a night and dominating play inside.

"That ability is there. Kim just has to believe it's there."

Nowakowski will have help down low this year in the form of 6-foot-2 senior forward April Smith, who averaged 6.7 points and 4.5 rebounds last season after transferring from Union County (N.J.) College.

Besides Nowakowski, no other returnee averaged more than Smith's 6.7 points per game last year.

"April has made tremendous strides,"Vincent said. "She's been our leading scorer and rebounder in our scrimmages."

Sophomore Bre Dillon inherits the point guard position from Storck.

"Playing against Megan in practice all of last year has made her a tough player,"Vincent said. "This season will be interesting. We're starting over with a new crop of players, and this team has to develop its own winning attitude."

Here is a look at the rest of the PSAC West:

• Coach:Cindy Martin, second year• Last year: 19-9• Key losses:Kara Taylor (7.8 ppg.), Mame Brumbaugh (9.1 ppg.)• Key returnees:PSACWest Rookie of the Year G-F Jahzinga Tracey (9.8 ppg., 6.8 rpg.), G-Katie Glaws (7.8 ppg.), G-FStaci Heberling (8.4 ppg.)• Coach says:"We had a young team last year, and losing to Edinboro on our home court in the first round of the playoffs was a good lesson. I think we've learned from that."

• Coach:Stan Swank, 20th year (328-205)• Last year: 21-10• Key losses: Callie Iorfido (12.5 ppg., 249 assists), Maria DiVecchio (11.9 ppg.), Jessi Montie (7.3 ppg.)• Key returnees: G-Kelly Calderone (16.0 ppg., 58 treys), F-Agnieszka Muchalow (11.9 ppg.)• Coach says:"We only have 10 players, but we need that for team chemistry and it allows us more repetition and focus on teaching. We've had great practices and I'm excited about new point guard Lacey Heiar, a junior college transfer who won 75 straight games in high school."

• Coach: Valerie Curtis, third year (21-32)• Key loss:Kristy Shadduck (9.2 ppg., 7.6 rpg.)• Key returnees:F-Ginger Williams (12.2 ppg, 8.1 rpg.), PG-Elizabeth Gabrielle (9.5 ppg., 105 assists), G-Ilia Lopez (12.5 ppg.), F-Shameka Lee (10.3 ppg., 7.4 rpg.)• Coach says:"Gabrielle is our floor leader (75 consecutive starts) and we have seven newcomers. Lopez is an all-conference player who will only get better."

• Coach: Kristy Trn, eighth year (133-71)• Last year: 12-15• Key losses: Kim Strickland (7.9 ppg., 6.9 rpg.), Caitlin MacPherson (7.4 ppg.)• Key returnees: G-Megan Fogle (15.2 ppg.), C-Shanna Oaddams (17.7 ppg., 10.1 rpg.), G-Phylicia Bessick (10.7 ppg.), G-Samantha Ramus (6.5 ppg., 5.4 rpg.)• Coach says:"We're not happy coming off a losing season and missing the PSACTournament (first time in 12 years). With four main starters back, we're looking to get back into the thick of things."

• Coach:Gie Parsons, 18th year (261-212)• Last year: 12-15• Key loss: Melba Melton (15.0 ppg., 107 assists)• Key returnees:F-Jessica Albanese (15.4 ppg., 7.9 rpg.), PG-Ashley Grimm (8.1 ppg.), G-F-April Gratton (11.5 ppg., 7.6 rpg.), G-Katrina Greer (10.9 ppg.)• Coach says: "Our strength is in our three juniors (Albanese, Grimm, Gratton) and I'm excited about guard My'Kea Cohill, a transfer from Youngstown State. We've got some good numbers; now we need some good results."