Western Oregon Journal

Issue date: 11/16/07 Section: Big Red Sports

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It's almost winter and that means basketball season has begun. It also means the chance for the Western Oregon University Women's basketball team to start fresh. The Wolves opened their season against the University of Oregon on Nov. 1 at Mac Court in Eugene.

Last season the lady wolves had a rough journey going 3-24. But the attitude, goals, and hopes for the 2007-2008 team are a turn in the right direction. Head Coach Greg Bruce is returning for his second year at Western. He, along with assistant Coach Sean Brokaw, spent the majority of last spring and summer recruiting players that will help put Western back on the competitive edge in the GNAC (Great Northwest Athletic Conference). "Last year we started to build the framework that would turn this program around," said Bruce, who has previously coached at Portland State, Northern Colorado, Cal State Bakersfield and Fort Lewis. "This year we have
14 new players, each of whom brings into the program a solid basketball experience along with a strong work ethic and a will to win."

The Wolves will be led by senior All-American guard Leada Berky, who lead the conference last year in scoring with 21.1 points per game. "Hopefully, Leada will continue to build on her already outstanding game of being one of the toughest players in the conference to guard," stated Bruce about the recently voted 2007-08 pre-season All- American candidate. Fellow seniors Allison Crumb, a 5'7" guard whose 3-point shooting should contribute immensely and Vanessa Wyffels, a 5'10 All-American post while at Willamette University, will join Berky after red-shirting last season due to transfer regulations. Claire Carpenter, libero for the Western volleyball team, will round out the senior class roster.

The rest of the team is new to the program including three college transfers, junior guard Jessica Goss, sophomore guard Shayla Corder, and sophomore forward Katie Torland. Goss played at Edmonds Community College in Washington, while Corder is a former standout from Roseburg who played her freshman year at The Masters College in California. Torland was a first team all-state selection at Burns High School and last year played at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, who made it to the D-II Sweet Sixteen.

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