Upping the ante

The goal is obvious – and it’s not to have three-consecutive winning seasons for the second time in school history.

No, this Gonzaga women’s basketball team has its sights set on a much bigger prize.

“I would expect us to win the conference … and go on to the NCAA Tournament,” senior guard Shannon Mathews said. “If we don’t, I’d be real disappointed.”

League coaches think the same way, tabbing the Bulldogs as favorites.

If that sounds like pressure, so be it.

“We use it as a positive during the recruiting season,” fifth-year coach Kelly Graves said. “I like expectations. We as coaches and players have high expectations. We have a goal to win the league. … Our men have been favored to win for quite a while and they’ve done all right.

“I like our chances. I think we’ve got great chemistry, good depth and we have experience.”

The Bulldogs return 11 letterwinners, including all five starters, from last year’s 18-12 team that played in the Women’s NIT. It was just GU’s second postseason appearance as a Division I school and first in 10 years. It was also the first time the team had a winning record in consecutive seasons, except for a three-year run as a NAIA school from 1984-86.

“I think we have some of the ingredients it takes to win it,” Graves said. “First and foremost is our kids are hungry. Our seniors think they have a chance to do something special. … I think they made a pact to do everything they can to leave that legacy here.”

Ashley Burke, a 6-foot-1 forward, and Mathews, a 5-6 guard, were all-conference last year after averaging 14.8 and 10.3 points, respectively. Burke, the top returning scorer in the WCC, led the league in field-goal percentage (.529) and Mathews led in assists (4.7).

Raeanna Jewell, a 5-7 wing who averaged 9.1 points last year, is the other senior starter. The forwards are 6-foot juniors Ashley Anderson, who averaged 11.4 points, and Anne Bailey.

The Bulldogs could get a big boost from Juliann Laney, who started six games as a freshman before missing the last two seasons with injuries.

“She’s still a little rusty but I like what I see, especially defensively,” Graves said. “I think she’s going to be one that gets better as the season goes on.”

But she’s not the only one Graves is counting on.

“With everybody back you would think we just would have picked up where we left off. That really hasn’t been the case,” Graves said. “Our freshmen have really screwed that all up. They’ve changed the dynamic of the team a little bit so we’ve adjusted the way we’re going to play a little bit. We’re trying people in new positions.”

Stephanie Hawk, a 6-3 sophomore, has made the biggest strides.

“She has been tremendous this fall, she’s probably been our most consistent player,” Graves said. “She’s someone who is 6-3, runs as fast as any of our guards, moves well, shoots the ball. She just has a knack to score. I’m expecting her to have a big year.”

Dominique Harris, a 5-11 guard from Los Angeles, could be a key factor as sophomore Rachel Kane has been slow coming back from a knee injury. Harris, a speedy point guard, is a difference-maker.

“We have a lot of kids that can play,” Graves said. “We’re going to do a lot more things. Push the ball a little more offensively so the tempo is quicker and then defensively going to put some pressure fullcourt. We want to get kids tired so we can justify playing more players. We’ve told them we’re committed to playing 11 players.”