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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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PALO ALTO, CA – MARCH 23: Dijonai Carrington #21 of the Stanford Cardinal drives on Sophia Song #21 and Morgan Bartsch #22 of the UC Davis Aggies during the first round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at Maples Pavilion on March 23, 2019 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Cody Glenn/Getty Images)
PALO ALTO, CA – MARCH 23: Dijonai Carrington #21 of the Stanford Cardinal drives on Sophia Song #21 and Morgan Bartsch #22 of the UC Davis Aggies during the first round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at Maples Pavilion on March 23, 2019 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Cody Glenn/Getty Images) /

UC Davis

2018-19 record: 25-6, 15-1 Conference

-Won Big West Tournament

-Lost in first round of NCAA Tournament to Stanford

Key Losses:

-Morgan Bertsch

-Kourtney Eaton

-Karley Eaton

Key Additions:

-Evanne Turner

-Kenedy Lilly

-Campbell Gray

UC Davis was the obvious cream of the crop last season, suffering only one loss during conference play, and breezing through the conference tournament before being briefly challenged by Hawaii in the championship game. It’s going to be a tough act for the Aggies to follow as not only did they lose Morgan Bertsch, the best player in school history, but they also lost the starting backcourt of Kourtney and Karley Eaton. There’s still enough talent left, however, for them to make some noise this season

Most of the offensive load is probably going to fall on junior Cierra Hall. Hall figures to have the ball in her hands quite often, and she is poised to have a breakout year. Last season, she was named to the Big-West All-Tournament Team where she took her game up a level. Not only is she a solid scorer, but she’s a great rebounder as well.

Hall will get some help with seniors Sophia Song and Nina Bessolo. Song moved into the starting lineup towards the end of last season, and she’s become one of the Aggies most dependable shooters from three-point range. Bessolo is also a solid outside shooter and she was named as an All-Big West Honorable Mention. She’s improved her numbers each season, and should have her best year yet as a senior.

What will be interesting to see is how much the Aggies incoming freshman class is able to contribute. While they can’t exactly replace Bertsch or the Eaton twins, they should be able to help in that department. Evanne Turner is a big guard who can score from anywhere on the court as well as act as a facilitator. Campbell Gray was the Three Rivers League Player of the Year in Oregon last season. She’s an all-around guard who is a triple-double threat. And then there’s Kenedy Lilly, who could eventually be Bertsch’s replacement. Lilly is a center who can dominate the paint and is a great passer out of double-teams. She set a school record last season at El Dorado High School with 57 points.

Despite the key losses, if the Aggies freshmen can contribute right away and blend well with their returning upperclassmen, UC Davis could find themselves right back in the mix in the Big West.

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