WINCHESTER – The Umpqua Community College women’s basketball team swept the Clackamas Thanksgiving Invite on Sunday November 27th beating the Clackamas Cougars 82-54. If the Clackamas Invite was indicative of the season to come for the Riverhawks, they are in a good shape as the team blew out three NWAC conference opponents.
Head coach, Dave Strickland who is in his 22nd year as head coach of the Riverhawks talked about the teams focus going into the season “Because our roster is so freshman heavy, and only two sophmores with one of them being hurt. We’re teaching them our way of doing things because the game is a lot more physical and a faster pace. Establishing the Umpqua way.”
Umpqua has nine freshman and two sophomores this season and one of the sophomores Syd Clark is hurt who normally starts. The Riverhawks will have to rely on a majority of freshman this year.
Post players Dajanay Powell and Jordan Stotler have been a dynamic duo so far for the Riverhawks this season. Stotler, a Roseburg HS graduate is averaging 22.7 points a game and 15 rebounds and 4 blocks a game while Dajanay is averaging 19.7 ppg and 10 rpg. Jordan Stotler was named NWAC Women’s basketball player of the week.
Strickland talked about the teams post play “Right now post play is our strength. We have two really good post players. The combination of the two of them has created tough matchups for our opponents. Will see this weekend but teams don’t have the defensive manpower to stop both of them. It’s kind of been like a pick your poison type thing.”
Strickland talked about it being his 22nd year as UCC women’s head coach “Time flies but it’s a great place to live, a great place to work and every year we get a new group of players. They keep me young.”
UCC will begin NWAC conference play Wednesday, January 4th against Southwestern Oregon Community College at 5:30 pm.
“We’re going be right their (in conference).” Strickland said “We have to incorporate our other players to make them bigger offensive options to help counteract the things opposing teams will try to take away. We’re going to have to find new ways to score. But were going to be a good time this year.”
The Riverhawks continue preseason play this Friday in the Bellevue College Bulldog Classic against Skagit Valley.
The next home game for the Riverhawks is Saturday, December 10th at 7pm against South Puget Sound Community College.
