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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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ONTARIO, CA – MARCH 22: Poly’s Arica Carter throws up a shot as she’s defended by Etiwanda’s Daeja Smith at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, CA on Saturday, March 22, 2014. Long Beach Poly vs Etiwanda in the CIF girls open division regional final. 1st half, (Photo by Scott Varley/Digital First Media/Torrance Daily Breeze via Getty Images)
ONTARIO, CA – MARCH 22: Poly’s Arica Carter throws up a shot as she’s defended by Etiwanda’s Daeja Smith at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, CA on Saturday, March 22, 2014. Long Beach Poly vs Etiwanda in the CIF girls open division regional final. 1st half, (Photo by Scott Varley/Digital First Media/Torrance Daily Breeze via Getty Images) /

Cal State Fullerton:

2018-19 record: 14-16, 6-10 Conference

Key Losses:

-Daeja Smith

-Jade Vega

-Hannah Thompson

Key Additions:

-Kathryn Neff

-Malia Goldsmith

-Megan Nieto

-Anniken Frey

Cal State Fullerton suffered some major losses. Gone are starters Daeja Smith and Jade Vega, and key reserve Hannah Thompson. Smith was on last season’s preseason Lisa Leslie award watch list, and she was one of the most dominant interior players in the conference. Even so, the Titans were one of the bottom teams in the conference.

The good news for the Titans is that Raina Perez is back. After redshirting the 2017-18 season, Perez returned to the court this past season and immediately made an impact as a scoring threat and a playmaker. She was named to the preseason All-Conference team.

Perez will be joined in the starting lineup with forwards Aimee Book and Carolyn Gill. Book was named to the All-Freshman team last season as well as winning the conference Sixth Player of the Year award. Book is an efficient scorer and sniper from three-point range. Gill is a rugged forward who will crash the glass and finish around the rim.

The rest of the starting lineup will be interesting to see. A couple of key reserves from last season, guard Clarissa Rodarte and center Madison Freemon figure to be in the mix. It will also be intriguing to see what kind of production the incoming freshmen will provide. Megan Nieto and Kathryn Neff provide depth in the frontcourt, and Anniken Frey and Malia Goldsmith will bolster the backcourt.

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