Cochise College | Athletics | Women's Basketball
The 2008-09 Lady Apache season ended with a record of eight wins and 22 losses. Injury and discipline concerns left the team shorthanded most of the year. A bright spot in a dark season was the team finishing 15th in the NJCAA academic all-American selections. In addition, sophomore Selena Florez was selected to the all-ACCAC team.
The 2009-10 campaign will see lots of new faces on this year's Lady Apache squad. Top three sophomores returning for the 2009-10 season are point guard Erica Sowers of Gallup, N.M., who averaged 6 points per game, 59 assists and 48 steals on the year; Zelenia Pellat, a 6'0" forward from Douglas, Ariz., who averaged 4 points per game and 90 rebounds on the year; and Sylwia Janas, a 6'0" forward from Poland who averaged 9 points per game and 211 rebounds, and was 63 percent from the free-throw line in 2008-2009. These players bring experience, speed, rebounding and excellent academic records to this new squad.
The freshman class for 2009-2010 is the largest in the past 13 years, with 10 newcomers. Freshman point guard Edthel Lugo from California brings speed, quickness and excellent scoring ability. Combo guard Nicole Ramos from El Paso is a multi-dimensional point guard 2-guard who can attack the basket or shoot the long-range 3-point shot, quick, fast and aggressive. Agnes Gallegos out of St. Pius X High School in New Mexico is another excellent combo guard/shooting guard who possesses quickness and high-percentage three-point shooting. All the way from New Zealand, Mieke Elkington, a 2/3-guard, provides not only speed and quickness but also a tremendous work ethic and toughness on defense. Britteny Brown from Albuquerque, N.M., moves to a 3-guard/ small forward spot for the Lady Apaches. She is fast, jumps well, runs the floor and has developed a nice 3-point shot. Also at the 3-guard position is Quintina Aday from Whiteriver, Ariz. With excellent conditioning, she can run all day. She, too, can score from the 3-point line and is an aggressive rebounder. At forward from Carlsbad, N.M., Vianca Villegas can play inside or step out and shoot the 3-point shot. She is a strong rebounder and has good speed. Antoinette Dickens from Sahuarita, Ariz., is under-sized at the forward spot; however, she is strong and a quick jumper. She was one of the leading rebounders in Arizona last year. In the post from the Dominican Republic is Evelyn Gomez. She posses great size and length and is built to play basketball. She should be a force inside. Rounding out our freshman class is forward Jasmine Arias from Chamberino, N.M. Jasmine is a strong 5'11" solid basketball player; aggressive, fast and a good scorer. We look for great things out of Jasmine.
The Arizona Community College Athletic Conference looks to be very strong again this year. Division I National Champions Central Arizona College and Division II third place team Pima Community College are early-season favorites. Mesa Community College, Arizona Western College and Yavapai College bring strong, big, well-balanced teams to round out the top five in the ACCAC pre-season.
The Lady Apache schedule, as always, is very demanding. Non-conference opponents include Midland College, Odessa College, Southwest Texas, New Mexico Junior College and perennial powerhouse Northeastern Oklahoma.
Come out and support the Lady Apaches! We are the best entertainment value in all of Arizona; admission is free and there is lots of excitement. Go Apaches!