"It's hard to believe," commented Bonvicini about the season starting this week. "It comes so quickly, but I'm very encouraged. Our players did a great job preparing, not just prior to season, but in the off season after last year and during the summer. I've been very impressed and very pleased."
"I think overall we are deeper, quicker and we're more athletic. We bring back a lot of experienced players and we'll be a much improved team from where we were a year ago," said Bonvicini.
Get to Know the Redhawks:
Seniors:
No. 15 Julee Christianson · 5-8 · F
One of two seniors who have been a part in the Redhawks transition from DII to DI, Julee Christianson brings veteran experience and leadership to this year's team. She is a solid off the bench performer, who adds depth to the wing position. Last season she saw action in all 30 contests and was the team's most accurate three-point shooter (34.5 percent). Christianson will add speed on the floor and her basketball IQ will help tutor the newcomers and cut down their learning curve.
Coach Bonvicini on Christianson:
"Julee is a much stronger player than a year ago. This season she will be much more skilled and has a better expectation of what we want from her. I think as a senior, her leadership and her experience will really pay dividends."
No. 20 Salena Dickerson · 5-11 · F
After transferring from Washington State and redshirting last season, Salena Dickerson will look to have a breakout senior season for the Redhawks. Dickerson is a multitalented player that can play both in the post and as a wing, and will be an immediate impact player in the lineup.
Coach Bonvicini on Dickerson:
"Salena has really blossomed into a versatile player. She's quick, can handle the ball, hit the three and then take it to the hole too. She is that person that can do a little of everything and I think she's definitely going to compete for a starting spot and get a lot of playing time."
No. 54 Tatiana Heck · 6-1 · F/C
Tatiana Heck is the top-returning scorer from last season, where she averaged 11 points per game and developed into a strong offensive threat. The SU center was named to the All-Independent Second Team and was voted Seattle U team MVP following her solid junior season. Her strong presence in the post helped break multiple career highs, including a standout game versus North Dakota on Feb. 16, where she scored 24 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Heck also boasted the highest field goal percentage on the team last season at 46.9 percent. She saw time in all 30 games last year, starting 29 of them. As co-captain this season, Heck will be looked to for her consistency and leadership.
Coach Bonvicini on Heck:
"Tatiana had a very good junior year, but now she is she has a much better understanding of what we want from her. She is stronger and more skilled from last year and we're looking for her to have a double-double every game. I think we're going to see Tatiana have her best year ever at Seattle U."
Juniors:
No. 5 Elle Kerfoot · 5-7 · PG
Elle Kerfoot returns for her junior season and will be called on to provide veteran experience at point guard. Kerfoot, who missed the beginning of last season, saw action in 19 games, starting 16 of them. She scored a career-best 24 points last season against Cal State Northridge on Feb. 10. Her speed, agility and ball handling skill will be key in setting up scoring drives for the Redhawks. As co-captain this season, she will look to lead her team vocally and by example.
Coach Bonvicini on Kerfoot:
"From last year to this year, I see a completely different player in Elle. She is stronger, fitter and more experienced. She is also a much better shooter, decision maker and leader. She is a much more vocal leader, which I think is the mark of being a great player."
No. 35 Maggie McCarthy · 5-10 · F
The Redhawk starting five will miss Maggie McCarthy this season, as she will be medical redshirting the year. Last season she saw action in 30 games, making 29 starts, providing a tenacious presence that was felt on both ends of the court. Last season, she led the team in rebounds with 5.3 a game and her top scoring performance was at Loyola Marymount on Dec. 30, where she tallied 19 points. McCarthy's aggressive defense and scrappy nature will be will leave a void that the newcomers will have to fill.
Coach Bonvicini on McCarthy:
"We're going to miss Maggie in a lot of different ways, but particularly because she was considered our best defender a year ago. Even though she's on the sideline this year she'll be able to contribute a lot as a teammate and I think she'll also learn a lot. You don't want to see kids get injured, but I think she'll use this year off to better herself."
No. 40 Samantha Messersmith · 5-10 · F
Samantha Messersmith returns for her junior season as one of the hardest workers for the Redhawks. She saw action in all 30 games last season, providing a spark off the bench. Messersmith is a good shooter and determined defender that will see action in the post, as well as the wing this season.
Coach Bonvicini on Messersmith:
"Samantha has always been a hard worker. I think she has improved strength-wise and skill-wise. She is a good shooter and rebounder. I think the best thing she brings to the team is energy."
Sophomores:
No. 21 Carley Butcher · 6-1 · F/C
Coming off consecutive ACL season-ending injuries, Carley Butcher returns as a much-improved post for the Redhawks this season. During the 11 games Butcher saw action in last year, she brought height and aggressiveness to the floor. The game prior to suffering her season-ending injury, she scored a career high 15 points on Dec. 5, against UC Irvine.
Coach Bonvicini on Butcher:
"Just when Carley got injured last year was when she was starting to come into her own. What's amazing is she is stronger, fitter and definitely a better basketball player than she was a year ago. I think Carley's going to have a terrific year and she has a very bright future here at Seattle U. She is very strong, a good shooter and scorer; she also gives us a little more size at 6'1".
No. 32 Amani Butler · 5-6 · G
Originally recruited by Bonvicini at Arizona, Amani Butler joined the Redhawks last season. After redshirting her true sophomore season in 2009-10, Butler looks to bring athleticism and strength to the Redhawks. She is a scorer, a strong rebounder and a tenacious on-ball defender that will bring the Seattle U game to the next level this season. She will have three years of playing eligibility at SU, beginning in 2010-11.
Coach Bonvicini on Butler:
"Amani is a great scorer and rebounder. She is very powerful and is someone who will never back down. Amani is a good teammate, who understands what it takes to play at Seattle U. She brings athleticism and competitiveness that was much needed in the program."
No. 24 Daidra Brown · 5-7 · PG
A standout at both Kennedy High School and College of Southern Idaho, Daidra Brown joins the Redhawks for her sophomore season. The SU transfer is a quick point guard, who led the nation in steals for all junior colleges. Her tenacious defense and good court vision is a key addition to the Redhawk lineup this season.
Coach Bonvicini on Brown:
"Daidra is an extremely quick guard who plays excellent on-ball defense. I think you'll see when she goes into the game, the tempo will go up and that we'll be much better defensively. I think she's getting better and improving."
Freshmen:
No. 41 Kacie Sowell · 6-2 · F
After having a standout senior season at Buena High School, where she averaged 17.4 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, Kacie Sowell will look to bring a new dynamic to the Redhawks post game. She is a solid rebounder and a talented finisher under the basket.
Coach Bonvicini on Sowell:
"I knew we were fortunate to get a player of Kacie's caliber. She has great hands, and good size and strength. She's very versatile and can shoot the jumper, drop step and rebound. Now I've got three capable posts battling each other everyday. Kacie is getting better everyday."
No. 14 Ashley Ward · 5-10 · F
Coming off a stellar high school career at Woodbridge High School, Ashley Ward brings a little bit of everything to the Redhawks. She was Bonvicini's first signed recruit at Seattle U, and is a very skilled and intelligent player that knows how to score. In addition, she will be a key rebounder this season.
Coach Bonvicini on Ward:
"Ashley is a smart and versatile wing. She is the kind of player who isn't going to be the quickest out there, but when you look at the stat sheet at the end of the day she did everything. She'll shoot the ball well, she'll rebound well, she'll get steals and assists. Ashley's just a very skilled player. I think as she gains confidence she'll be a star in her own right."
No. 1 Sylvia Shephard · 5-10 · G
After averaging 25 points per game her senior season at Alta Loma High School, Sylvia Shephard will bring a scorers mentality to the Redhawks. She is a strong guard that not only knows how to score, but also gets it done on the defensive end. Her athleticism and coachability will bring the Redhawk guard's game to the next level.
Coach Bonvicini on Shephard:
"The thing that has amazed us as coaches is how coachable Sylvia is been. She has picked up things immediately and is actually going to vie for a starting spot. She potentially could be a very integral part of our team. Sylvia can hit the three, she's quick and is strong. She has good size at 5-10 and can jump well."
A Look at the Schedule:
The Redhawks have a much more balanced schedule this season, with a talented mix of opponents. Building on last season's 6-24 record, SU comes into 2010-11 much more experienced and with a full season of NCAA Division I experience under their belt.
"We wanted to balance both home and away games. Of our 14 home games this year, it is highlighted with our State Farm Holiday Classic at KeyArena with Notre Dame, Loyola Marymont and Gonzaga. We're still playing very high quality teams," said Bonvicini.
This year Seattle U will take on five teams that participated in last season's NCAA Tournament. SU will play 30 games this season, hosting 14 of them, including a pair of tournaments. The Redhawks will take on five West Coast Conference teams, along with a number of Big Sky and Big West teams. They have also brought in teams from all across the country to compete in the Connolly Center this year and will cap of the season in Fort Meyers, Fla. at the Florida Gulf Coast Tournament, taking on a trio of teams in the regular season finale.
"My thing is the season is a marathon, not a sprint. My job it to prepare our players for every game. We've played a number of these teams a year ago, but I think our team has a much better expectation of what I want. I think my staff and I can now bring the things and the kind of talent I like and my type of style," commented the second season head coach.
"You'll see a much more up-tempo style and us more aggressive defensively. Because of that we'll be able to use our athleticism a lot better. Basketball is a team game. I think its execution is using your strengths and then really going after weaknesses on the other team and exposing them. I am excited about continuing to build this program and representing Seattle U well," concluded Bonvicini.