Hancock Women's Basketball Tips Off Season Saturday at West Hills-Lemoore

Coming off its most successful season in 11 years, the Allan Hancock College women's basketball team looks to continue the momentum during the 2014-15 season that opens this Saturday on the road.

"We have all the pieces to compete for a conference championship," said second-year head coach Cary Nerelli. "Whether the pieces fall into place remains to be seen."

The Bulldogs start the season Saturday, Nov.8, at West Hills-Lemoore at 5 p.m. Last year, the Bulldogs topped Lemoore 63-54 in Joe White Memorial Gymnasium.  "The ladies have an incredible work ethic and have really embraced our system on both ends of the court," said Nerelli. "We are anxious to play our first game to get a measuring stick of where we are."

They will open the San Diego Mesa Tournament against Rio Hondo on Thursday, Nov. 13, at 8 p.m.  Their first home game is Nov. 19 against Taft College, who they defeated 67-46 in last year's season opener.

Depth at the guard position will be a strength for the Bulldogs. Last year's leading scorer, Ali Rodriguez (Pioneer Valley High School), along with Celina Calderon (Lompoc HS) and Nicole De La Guerra (Pioneer Valley HS) return for the Bulldogs. Rodriguez averaged 16.5 points and shot 35 percent from three-point range and led the team with a 75 percent mark from the free-throw line. Calderon averaged 6.2 points and shot 33.3 percent from long range. DeLaGuerra average 4 points and 2.7 rebounds. Added to the mix will be freshman Marissa Torres, a Templeton High School graduate. Torres averaged 11 points last season for the Los Padres League champions.

Nerelli must replace post players Emma Weinreich, the program's first Division I recruit, and Justine Roland. Weinreich averaged 10 points and 5.8 rebounds per game before signing with Southern Utah. Roland averaged 12.8 points and 9.1 rebounds per contest before signing with Notre Dame de Namur.

"Our post players have the potential to be as good or better than last year's group. But it depends on their development during the preseason," said Nerelli.

Freshmen Tashara Pruett (Lompoc HS) and Jazmine Cooks (Pioneer Valley HS) will play the biggest roles in the paint. Pruett was an All-League player for the Braves after averaging 10 points and 11 rebounds her senior season. Cooks was a key player for the Panthers in high school. Her sister, Mariah, plays women's basketball at Washington State.

Freshmen Ashley Daher (San Joaquin Memorial), a CIF Central Section's Spirit of Sports Award winner last year, Michaila Miller (Santa Barbara HS) and Jasmin Chavez (Righetti HS) will also contribute minutes in the paint for the Bulldogs. Miller played on Santa Barbara High's CIF championship team last season.

"All of our players are athletes. They have shown tremendous improvement in the last few months, which is an indication they are just scratching the surface of their potential," added Nerelli.

The Hancock women are coming off a 13-14 season that marked the program's highest win total since the 2002-03 campaign.