Big West 2019-20 season preview: another new champion?

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 21: Head coach Faith Mimnaugh of the Cal Poly Mustangs eyes the play from the bench against the Loyola Marymount Lions in the first half of the home opening game at Gersten Pavilion on November 21, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. Cal Poly won 87-79. (Photo by Jeff Golden/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 21: Head coach Faith Mimnaugh of the Cal Poly Mustangs eyes the play from the bench against the Loyola Marymount Lions in the first half of the home opening game at Gersten Pavilion on November 21, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. Cal Poly won 87-79. (Photo by Jeff Golden/Getty Images) /
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BATON ROUGE, LA – MARCH 24: Faith Mimnaugh, head coach of the Cal Poly Mustangs speaks with Ariana Elegado #5 during the first round of the NCAA Tournament against the Penn State Lady Lions at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on March 24, 2013 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LA – MARCH 24: Faith Mimnaugh, head coach of the Cal Poly Mustangs speaks with Ariana Elegado #5 during the first round of the NCAA Tournament against the Penn State Lady Lions at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on March 24, 2013 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo:

2018-19 record: 6-21, 3-13 Conference

Key Losses:

-Dye Stahley

-Devin Stanback

-Katie Nunnelley

Key Additions:

-Maddie Vick

-Leslie Hunter

-Anna Ehala

-Rebecca Penner

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is also losing a few key players from last year’s roster, a team that didn’t even make the conference tournament. They’ll be losing Dye Stahley, Devin Stanback, and Katie Nunnelley. A few key reserves are returning, but it might not be enough to vault the Mustangs back into the conference tournament.

Junior guard Hannah Peterson made a solid impact last season, her first with the Mustangs, after transferring from Foothill College. She’ll be joined by senior center Hana Vesela who was last season’s leading scorer and interior defensive anchor.

One player poised to break into the starting lineup as a regular, and have a big season is sophomore guard Maddie Willett. She was named to last season’s conference All-Freshman team and one of the conference’s best outside shooters.  Also, senior center Alicia Roufosse should take another step forward after being in the running for Sixth Player of the Year and being a force on the glass.

The Mustangs are bringing in a few talented newcomers. Freshman guard Leslie Hunter is an explosive scorer who is deadly in transition. Freshman forward Anna Ehala brings a wealth of overseas experience, and she was ranked the No. 1 3×3 player in Estonia by FIBA Oceania. Rebecca Penner and Maddie Vick will be making their Mustang debuts after redshirting their freshman year. Penner is a solid insider presence who is strong on the glass. Vick is a scoring guard who can also act as a playmaker.

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