The San José State women’s basketball team looks to bounce back after coming off of a 6-25 record, which included placing second to last in the Mountain West Conference with a 3-11 home record last season.
With the departure of guard Jada Holland, who led SJSU in points, assists and steals last season, the Spartans’ will have to mix up their formula from a perimeter-oriented to an inside-out game.
“(Jada Holland) definitely helped us out with scoring last season, but I feel like we do have some newcomers,” senior guard Jasmine Singleton said. “We have multiple people that can put the ball in the basket, so I don’t think that’s going to be a problem for us.”
The Spartans recruited five new freshmen players including guard Sydni Summers, who was a three-time First Team All-League at Centennial High School in Corona, Calif.
“Our greatest strength is definitely our inside presence,” senior forward Alani Fluker said. “We have a lot of size, a lot of upside to us. This year we have some transfers that came in and we’re just ready to dominate the paint this year.”
April Phillips will lead the Spartans in her second year as head coach for the squad.
“I love April. She’s not only a great coach, she’s an even better person,” said senior forward/center Finau Tonga. “Not only does she teach us about lessons on the court, but better lessons off the court. As a person as a logo and student-athlete, she represents it well.”
Tonga, a transfer student from Saint Mary’s College of California, said there are multiple elements that set apart this San José State team from her previous team.
“I would say talent-wise is the difference,” Tonga said. “Talent-wise, we’re there one hundred percent. Coach (Phillips) really dialed in on details and I think that’s one thing that sets us apart from other programs is getting us down to the nitty and gritty stuff.”
The competition in the MWC is bedded with a thicket of formidable foes, including rivals Cal State Fullerton, the University of Hawaiʻi and Cal State Northridge.
“I think (the goal is) we just want to get better,” Phillips said. “We’re a better team, a better program overall than last season and we (want) to be a better team and program come March than we are in November.”
MWC rivals University of Nevada, Las Vegas went 31-3 and maintained a perfect 18-0 at home and both the University of Wyoming and San Diego State University both finished 23-11 overall.
“Ultimately, (we want to) turn this program around, get more wins under our belt and be one of the top teams in the Mountain West,” Fluker said.
Phillips said she emphasizes accountability and leadership regardless of her players’ roles on the team.
“I think we have an impact group that is charged with leadership,” Phillips said. “But we have a group that is actually really invested in the process. So when you get in a game, it can be anyone on this roster that has a voice and is able to speak to the rest of their teammates. We always talk about how obviously, there’s no hierarchy.”
Tonga said this season is about winning games and putting San José on the map.
The Spartans are scheduled to open their regular season up at home against Santa Clara University at 7 p.m. Monday at Provident Credit Union Event Center.
