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

By David Yapkowitz

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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SP.Hoops.AllGirls1.031496.MB––(Irvine)–Jennifer Saari–Brea Olinda, Tamara Inoue–Laguna Hills, Melanie Pearson–Woodbridge, and Erin Stovall–Woodbridge. (Photo by Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
SP.Hoops.AllGirls1.031496.MB––(Irvine)–Jennifer Saari–Brea Olinda, Tamara Inoue–Laguna Hills, Melanie Pearson–Woodbridge, and Erin Stovall–Woodbridge. (Photo by Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) /

UC Irvine:

2018-19 Record: 20-11, 8-8 Conference

-Lost in the conference semifinals to UC Davis

Key Losses:

-Andee Ritter

-Sabrina Engelstad

Key Additions:

-Chloe Webb

-Kayla Williams

On paper, UC Irvine seems like a team that has as good a chance as any to be the last one standing at the end of the season. They had a solid season last year and ended up making it to the tournament semifinals before falling to eventual champion UC Davis.

They’ll be led by junior wing Jordan Sanders. The past two season, Sanders has established herself as one of the conference’s most talented scorers. She was the Big West Freshman of the Year during the 2017-18 season, and was named to the first team All-Big West last year. For a wing though, she doesn’t shoot many three-point shots nor does she hit that high a percentage. It will be interesting to see if she’s added that to her game this season.

Part of what made Irvine tough last season was their guard rotation consisting of Lauren Saiki, Brooke Bayman, and Yazzy Sa-Dullah. All three are seniors now and ready to reprise their roles for the Anteaters. They’re going to get some help too with incoming freshmen Kayla Williams and Chloe Webb. Williams is an explosive guard who can get points in a hurry. Webb is a bit of a combo guard who can run the offense as well.

The interior might be a little bit of a question mark though as the Anteaters lost Sabrina Engelstad who did a solid job of protecting the paint and being an overall presence inside. They’ll look to junior Tahlia Garza to hopefully provide some of the same production. Garza was a starter as a freshman, but moved into more of a bench role last season. She is also a solid interior defender and can finish around the rim.

The Anteaters certainly have the talent to win the conference and take advantage of other teams losing key players.

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