The 2008-09 Big West women's basketball prospectus, which highlights the upcoming season, as well as recapping the 2007-08 season, is now available.

Cal Poly

• Cal Poly concluded the 2007-08 season with an 8-8 conference mark, tying with Cal State Fullerton for fifth in the conference. In the Big West Tournament, the fifth-seeded Mustangs made a strong run towards the conference title after blazing through the first round and quarterfinals. They lost in their semifinal contest to eventual champion UC Santa Barbara.

• The Mustangs return All-Big West First Team selection Megan Harrison and All-Big West Freshman Team member Kristina Santiago to the 2008-09 lineup. Harrison concluded last season ranked fourth in the league in scoring (13.3 ppg) and sixth in rebounding (6.9 rpg). Santiago led all Mustangs with a .497 field goal percentage and 20 blocks while averaging 7.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.

• Cal Poly has a void with the loss of Sparkle Anderson, who competed in 118 contests and retired as the program’s all-time leader for appearances. Anderson also ranked second in Mustang history with 373 assists and 10th with 942 points.

• Once again Cal Poly has one of the tallest teams in the Big West with a league-high 11 players standing six feet or taller. In fact, four of the Mustangs' incoming freshmen reach the six-foot mark. Newcomers Abby Bloetscher and Aly Geppert are the two tallest players on the team at 6-3. Long Beach State owns the conference's second tallest team with eight players reaching the six-foot mark.

Cal State Fullerton

• In 2007-08, the Cal State Fullerton Titans posted an overall record of 11-19 and a conference mark of 8-8, tying them for fifth place in the league. The Titans' eight victories is the team's highest win total since the 2003-04 season when they went 8-10.

• Cal State Fullerton returns two-time All-Big West First Team selection Toni Thomas, who led the conference in scoring (17.1 ppg) and ranked second in rebounds (7.9 rpg). Thomas is joined by 2007-08 Big West Freshman of the Year Lauren Chow and All-Big West Honorable Mention selection Ashley Richie. Chow and Richie were also named to the conference's all-freshman team. Chow paced the league in three-pointers (2.57) and ranked second in three-point field goal percentage (.360). All three players placed in the conference's top 15 in scoring.

• Head coach Dr. Maryalyce Jeremiah, entering her 13th season at the helm of the Titans squad, was one of 22 inductees in the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame & Museum's class of 2008. Jeremiah's 167-185 record at CSF makes her the winningest coach in program history.

• Once again, the talent of the Golden State is showcased on the Titans' roster. Cal State Fullerton is the lone Big West school to have its 2008-09 roster comprised entirely of Californians

Cal State Northridge

• Cal State Northridge, with an overall mark of 1-26 last season, went winless in conference play at 0-16. The Matadors' last conference win was at The Matadome on March 1, 2007, against Cal Poly. The Matadors downed the Mustangs 67-60 to post back-to-back league victories.

• Following a rebuilding year that showcased no returning starters, Cal State Northridge displays a lineup with 10 letterwinners and four returning starters for the 2008-09 season. Freshman Jasmine Erving and junior transfer Kayla Rutherford are the only new additions to the 2008-09 roster.

• The Matadors are led by Whitney Ligon who averaged 12.1 points per game and fired a .742 free throw percentage and a .302 three-point percentage last year. Crystal Hahs returns for her senior year as the Matadors' leader in blocks and field goal percentage. She also concluded the 2007-08 season ranked in the nation's top 10 in blocks (2.8 bpg).

• Two holiday tournaments highlight Cal State Northridge's schedule, as the Matadors travel to Anchorage, Alaska, for the Great Alaska Shootout over the Thanksgiving holiday and then compete in the UNLV Holiday Tournament over winter break. Along with tournament play, Cal State Northridge visits the Lone Star State for contests against Rice (11/14) and Prairie View A&M (11/16). A few California rivals are scattered throughout the schedule along with matchups with Eastern Washington and Columbia. The Matadors open conference play at Pacific on January 2.

Long Beach State

• Long Beach State concluded the 2007-08 regular season with an overall mark of 9-20 and a 7-9 league record to place seventh in the Big West Conference. The 49ers closed out the year winning four of their last five contests, with their only loss coming to the conference champion UC Santa Barbara.

• The 49ers welcome back a league-high 12 letterwinners and four starters, which includes 2007-08 All-Big West Second Team selection Karina Figueroa and All-Big West Freshman Team member LaTorya Barbee. Figueroa, who sat out part of last season due to a foot injury, returns as the team's leading scorer and free throw and three-point shooter. Seniors Kaiti O'Brien, the team's top stat returner in assists and field goal percentage, and Lynea Williams will also provide leadership to the 49er squad.

• With seven players standing six feet or taller, Long Beach State is slated to be one of the tallest teams in the Big West Conference this season.

• Long Beach State opens the 2008-09 season with two home matches against San Diego State and San Jose State before embarking on a six-game span that takes the 49ers to contests in four states outside of California - Washington State, Idaho, Nebraska and Arizona. Following their road trip, LBSU hosts BYU and New Mexico State and plays one more road contest at Fresno State before opening Big West play on January 2 at UC Santa Barbara.

UC Davis

• In just their first year of competition in the Big West Conference, the UC Davis Aggies posted a 19-12 overall mark and a 12-4 conference record to finish second in the league. They also advanced to the finals of the Big West Conference Tournament and received a berth into the Women's NIT. They became just the second team in Big West history to advance to the conference tournament championship game in its first year in the league.

• In 11 years at UC Davis, 2007-08 Big West Coach of the Year Sandy Simpson owns an impressive 195-115 (.629) record. He needs just five wins to earn his 200th career victory.

• Last season UC Davis ranked among the nation's best in free throw percentage (.787), steals (18th) and field goal percentage (43rd). The Aggies return their second leading scorer in All-Big West second teamer Haylee Donaghe, who ranked in the nation's top 50 in steals in 2007-08 and paces the 2008-09 lineup in scoring, field goal percentage, steals and minutes played. This year she leads a core of veteran players, which includes Anna Harp and Kristen Commins. The Aggies also have their fair share of youth with seven fresh faces added to the roster, nearly double the amount of freshmen at any other conference school.

• In 2007-08, the Aggies paced the Big West Conference in free throw percentage (.787), field goal percentage (.435) and steals (11.45).

UC Irvine

• UC Irvine begins the 2008-09 season with a new leader - head coach Molly Goodenbour - who was named the head women’s basketball coach in August. Goodenbour, who becomes the seventh women's coach in the program's history, comes to UCI after two successful seasons at Chico State, where she compiled a 52-11 record. Last season, Goodenbour was named California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Coach of the Year after guiding the Wildcats to a 28-6 record, tying the Chico State single-season record for victories. Her 2007-08 team ended the year ranked 17th in the final USA Today/ESPN Division II Coaches Poll, won the CCAA regular season and tournament titles, as well as advancing to the semifinals of the NCAA Division II Women’s West Regional.

• UC Irvine returns three of its top eight scorers this year in 2007-08 All-Big West Honorable Mention selection and second-leading scorer Kelly Cochran (11.5 ppg), fourth leading scorer Rebecca Maessen (7.0 ppg) and seventh leading scorer Kirian Ishizaki. Along with scoring, Cochran enters the new year as the team's top stat returner in rebounds, field goal percentage, free throw percentage and blocks.

• The Anteaters added some height to their 2008-09 lineup with the arrival of four newcomers that all measure 5-11 or higher. A pair of junior transfers from Vrsac, Serba, Mijana Cejic (6-2) and Jovana Petrovic (6-1), are joined by freshmen Kiara Belen (5-11) and Rana Simpson (5-11).

UC Riverside

• The UC Riverside Highlanders concluded the 2007-08 season with a 14-16 overall mark and a 10-6 record in Big West play, finishing third. The Highlanders were unable to defend both the Big West Conference regular season and tournament titles, losing their semifinal matchup to first-year member UC Davis. This season UC Riverside will rely on a senior-laden lineup to elevate it back to the top of the league.

• The 2007-08 season marked the fourth straight year UC Riverside has posted double-digit victories. All four successful seasons were under the helm of head coach John Margaritis, who enters his fifth season at UC Riverside with a 67-54 record.

• The Highlanders return their top seven scorers from a year ago, including 2006-07 Big West Conference Player of the Year Kemie Nkele. Seyram Gbewonyo led the Highlanders in 2007-08 with a 13.2 average, followed by Brittany Waddell at 11.3 points per game.

• The 2008 Preseason Women’s National Invitational Tournament headlines the 2008-09 schedule for UC Riverside. The Highlanders are one of 16 teams selected to this year's field. UC Riverside opens play on Saturday, Nov. 15 against Oklahoma. Other teams participating in the tournament include Arizona State, Indiana, Liberty, North Carolina, Virginia Commonwealth, and Xavier. The Highlanders are also scheduled to play in the Northern Arizona Tournament where they will face North Dakota and Bradley. Other teams on this year's slate are Arizona State, Arizona, Vanderbilt and Yale.

UC Santa Barbara

• UC Santa Barbara begins the 2008-09 season with a new face at the helm of the Gauchos women's basketball program. During the offseason Lindsay Gottlieb, formerly the associate head coach at California, was named the new head coach following the retirement of former UCSB head coach Mark French. Gottlieb, who becomes just the fourth coach in program history, comes to Santa Barbara after spending the last three seasons as an assistant at California, where she helped guide the Golden Bears to an overall record of 68-28 (.708) over that span.

• UC Santa Barbara returns four regular starters and several other key players from a 2007-08 team that went 23-8, won both the Big West regular season and tournament championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. In addition, the Gauchos return Jenna Green, a two-time All-Big West honoree who sat out last season but was awarded a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA. Finally, they will also add a trio of freshmen and Chris Spencer, a transfer from the University of Wisconsin.

• The Gauchos begin the season with back-to-back games against 2008 NCAA Tournament teams - San Diego and Fresno State. They follow that up with a pair of Pac-10 games against Arizona and USC. The remainder of UCSB’s nonconference schedule also offers outstanding games, including Gonzaga, Pepperdine, Kentucky and Oregon State. In all, the 2008-09 schedule includes 15 home games and 14 road contests. UC Santa Barbara opens defense of its Big West regular season and tournament crowns on Jan. 2 when they host Long Beach State.

Pacific

• Pacific has an even mix of experience and youth, as seven upperclassmen (five seniors, two juniors) are joined by three sophomores and four freshmen in the 2008-09 lineup. The Tigers are led by All-Big West Second Team selection Janae Young, who is the team's returning stat leader in scoring, rebounds and steals. She is joined by All-Big West Honorable Mention member Amy VanHollebeke, Pacific's assist and free throw leader.

• Head coach Lynne Roberts has made an immediate impact on the Tiger's squad. In just her second season she led Pacific to a 14-16 overall mark and a 9-7 conference record. This is a vast improvement on each of the previous three seasons where the Tigers were unable to tally more than eight overall victories and three conference wins. Prior to their fourth place finish in 2007-08, Pacific had finished last in the Big West for three straight seasons.

• Pacific's quest for their first Big West title begins on November 18 as the Tigers take on Oregon in the season opener. The nonconference schedule is highlighted by the Tiger's first trip to the Junkanoo Jam tournament in the Bahamas. The Tigers begin the tournament with a clash against North Carolina, on November 28. Pacific also takes on an array of regional rivals in nonconference play with Fresno State, Sacramento State and Saint Mary's. The Tigers begin their pursuit of a Big West championship on Friday, January 2 when they host Cal State Northridge. In all, Pacific has 14 home dates during the regular season while hitting the road for 15 contests.