Nov 11, 2015 5 min read

CALIFORNIA – When last seen on the court, the California University women’s basketball team was celebrating in Sioux Falls, S.D., after a remarkable and unlikely run to the NCAA Division II national championship. It concluded with an impressive 86-69 dismantling of California Baptist in the title game. It was the Vulcans’ second national championship in 12 years.

When the players and coaches returned to Washington County, they were celebrated with banquets and a parade, and honored by politicians and community leaders.

“The whole thing is still somewhat surreal,” said Miki Glenn, the Vulcans’ junior point guard who was MVP of the PSAC tournament and Atlantic Regional. “To say that you’re the No. 1 team in the entire country is just crazy to think about.”

That, however, was last season. Since then, there has been an offseason and a preseason, and each has stripped Cal of much of its firepower.

Graduation took away sparkplug guard Kaitlynn Fratz, steady perimeter shooter Emma Mahady and forward Irina Kukolj, whose tenacity and versatility were key intangibles during the postseason.

The preseason, however, has been just as devastating as the offseason. Lana Doran, a senior forward who was the Vulcans’ defensive stopper last season, recently suffered a season-ending knee injury. Brittany Nelson, a senior forward who played in 20 games last season and was being counted on as a rebounder this winter, also suffered a knee injury. Like Doran, Nelson underwent season-ending surgery.

“Both injuries were non-contact,” Cal head coach Jess Strom said while shaking her head in disbelief as she looked at Doran and Nelson sporting crutches and bulky knee braces while watching a recent practice from the Convocation Center seats.

“Both of those injuries happened in Hamer Hall and on the same spot on the court. Can you believe it?”

Already hit by a double-dose of misfortune, California is down to 10 healthy players. And one of those, sophomore forward Seairra Barrett, has been playing for California’s volleyball team, which concludes its season this weekend. Barrett, however, will be in a basketball uniform Saturday when the Vulcans begin defense of their national championship, playing Notre Dame (Ohio) in the West Liberty Conference Challenge. Tip-off is 2 p.m.

“It feels like just last week we were playing. The time just flies,” Strom said. “Once we started practicing, though, we had to forget about all of that. We have 10 players here and they have to be our focus.”

Glenn is the hub of the team. She averaged a team-high 16.5 points per game last season and shot 85 percent from the free-throw line. Glenn scored 31 points in the national championship game and will be counted on to be a steady force while the Vulcans try to establish an identity.

Barrett and CeCe Dixon, the top two reserves from last season, are back and will move into the starting lineup. Barrett averaged seven points and six rebounds as a freshmen. Dixon, a junior guard, had a big game against Virginia State in the NCAA tournament.

Strom said the Vulcans’ most improved player is junior forward Precious Martin, who played only 182 minutes last season but is likely to have a significant role this year.

“She has put in a lot of time,” Strom said. “CeCe also has gotten better. The kids we had on the bench last year really could have played or started for a lot of other teams. Those kids were not your typical bench players.”

Cal also will be counting on sophomore forward Shatara Parsons and redshirt freshman forward Morgan Jennings. Parsons scored 14 points in the Vulcans’ exhibition game last week against Penn State.

Strom and her six returning players say the formula for success remains the same. Cal wants to use defensive pressure to force turnovers and get easy baskets in transition. That’s what the Vulcans did all the way to the national championship.

“We’re not going to change anything,” Strom admitted. “We have six players who practiced it last year. We think we’re capable of doing it with the kids we have. We always emphasize defense and that’s not going to change. We forced Penn State into 18 turnovers, and in our two scrimmages we forced 23 and 28.”

With Glenn being the only returning starter and no proven three-point shooter, scoring could be difficult. That, however, would be similar to last season when Cal was prone to extended scoring droughts.

“Putting the ball in the basket could be an issue. In fact, I expect it,” Strom said. “That’s just the way we play. If we can pressure the ball and force turnovers, then we’ll be OK.

“It might take us until after the Christmas break to get used to playing together. Those kids last year had been together for three or four years. Our chemistry has to get better and the only way that will happen is by playing.”

Sammie Weiss, a three-time Observer-Reporter Player of the Year at McGuffey, is one of three true freshmen on the roster. … Cal plays Sunday (2 p.m.) at West Liberty. The Vulcans defeated West Liberty twice last season, including 69-64 in the second round of the NCAA tournament. … Women’s basketball games this season will be played with four 10-minute quarters instead of the traditional two 20-minute halves.