Author: Tim O’Donnell
The Mackenzie Brandon ’13 era is over. The preseason All-American graduated last spring, leaving behind one of the most accomplished legacies in Occidental women’s basketball history. Along with Brandon, starting guards Liz Little ’13 and Marquisha Corley ’13 also saw their time as Occidental student-athletes come to an end with a 16-10 record (11-5 SCIAC) on a two-point loss to Cal Lutheran in the SCIAC semi-finals.
On the men’s side, the Tigers look to rebound from a 2-16 conference record a year ago and strive to replace 6-foot-8-inch big man Conrad Liebowitz ’13.
Women’s
Despite the turnover, the cupboard is not bare for the women’s team. Occidental returns seven seniors and two juniors, highlighted by senior captains Elizabeth “Bitsy” Messick and Michelle Lo.
Lo started 21 games at guard last season and averaged close to seven points per contest. She will lead a balanced attack on the perimeter, which features seniors Crystal Goodwin and Drew Van Vleck as well as point guard and one of eight newcomers Tiffany Kho (first-year).
Head coach Anahit Aladzhanyan expects her guards to have the ability to create high-percentage shots for the post players. Messick, coming off a First Team All-SCIAC season as a junior in which she averaged a double-double (10.5 points and 10.6 rebounds), would normally benefit from such plays, but she is currently sidelined with an ankle injury.
“Right now my goal is just to get healthy and help the newcomers adjust,” Messick said.
Her absence has left the interior rotation in a state of flux, but Lo expressed excitement about Kristen Treat’s (senior) performance filling in at the center position thus far in practice. Senior Brittni Walker will also be a factor in the frontcourt.
The Tigers will look to forge a new identity, but Aladzhanyan, Messick and Lo all believe they still have a chance to continue the program’s successful run and finish in the top four of the conference en route to another postseason appearance.
“Our players came up with that goal,” Aladzhanyan said. “It’s doable, but we have a lot of work to do.”
The women open their season at UC Santa Barbara next Sunday.
Men’s
Entering his 26th season at the helm of the Occidental men’s basketball program, head coach Brian Newhall sees this season as an opportunity for his Tigers to recapture past success after a 7-18 campaign in which they finished ahead of only Caltech in the SCIAC conference.
“Last year we put in a completely new system, both offensively and defensively,” he said. “This will be our second year in that system, which leads to higher expectations.”
Success will start with Kris Montoya (senior) and his 17.1 points per game. According to the 6-foot-6-inch slasher, he has developed his overall game to accompany his natural scoring ability, particularly in defense and rebounding.
Senior Ty Cobb and Ryan Chong (junior) will bring more of a veteran presence to the starting lineup. Cobb, at 6-feet-5-inches, is slightly undersized for a post player. But Newhall describes him as a hard-nosed athlete who provides defense and rebounding and is the back line for Occidental’s full court press.
Chong was the team’s designated three-point shooter last season. According to Newhall, he has also become a more complete player. Fellow returner Chad Tanioka (sophomore) is in the mix in the backcourt as well.
Rounding out the rotation are a handful of newcomers. Sophomore transfer Korey Hamane (Pudget Sound) will compete with Tanioka for the starting position of floor general. Fellow transfer Spencer Levy (junior, Moorpark College) adds another three-point threat, while Juwan Rice (junior, Boston University), who played six games for the Tigers last season and scored 18 points against Cal Lutheran, is a versatile athlete on the wing.
Newhall brought in a strong recruiting class of seven first-years, many of whom he believes will compete for playing time.
The black and orange is undersized and young, but it will use its speed, quickness and depth to produce an up-tempo style of play that is focused on tough pressure defense.
The balanced SCIAC is up for grabs this season. Occidental looks to shed the disappointment of last year and return to the upper echelon of the conference.
“Anyone can beat anyone,” Montoya said.
The men travel to Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday.
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