SCHULTZ MAKES IMPRESSION IN PARTIAL SEASON: The fact that she missed the first nine games of the season did little to slow down forward Erica Schultz or her effect on the Boxers during the Northwest Conference season. The junior was recognized for her efforts with selection to the All-Northwest Conference Women’s Basketball Second Team.
Schultz missed the first nine games of the season while completing a fall semester study abroad experience in Spain, but hardly missed a beat upon her return to Forest Grove. She opened the season by leading the Boxers in scoring in her first two games back and hit game-winning shots against Northwest Christian on Jan. 4 and Willamette on Jan. 7. Schultz finished scoring double digits in 10 games and registered double-doubles twice. She scored a season-high 23 points against Linfield on Feb. 12.
Schultz finished the season leading the Boxers with an average of 13.3 points per game and was second for the team with five rebounds per game. She would have ranked in the NWC’s top-10 in scoring and field goal percentage had she played in the conference minimum of playing in 75 percent of the team’s contests. She did, however, rank fifth in scoring in conference games at 15.1 points per game and sixth in steals with 1.71 per contest (24 total).
JENSEN SELECTED AS HONORABLE MENTION: With the late arrival of Erica Schultz, Paige Jensen opened the season carrying the load in the post. She continued to perform well all season and earned honorable mention to the All-Northwest Conference Women’s Basketball Team.
Jensen, who earned a reputation as a rebounding specialist in her freshman season, added a scoring touch as a sophomore. She finished second for the Boxers in scoring with an average of 10.1 points per game and finished ninth in the league in rebounding with nine boards per contest. She also finished 10th in the NWC in field goal shooting, hitting 46 percent of her shots.
Jensen finished the season with double-digit scoring in 11 games and was the only Pacific player to start in all 25 games. She finished with nine double-doubles, second most by a NWC player, and topped the season with a monster effort of 31 points and 17 rebounds against Pacific Lutheran on Jan. 29.
ROUGH START SETS TONE FOR SEASON: From the start of the season, it became obvious that it would be a rough go for the Pacific women’s basketball team. A young lineup, the absence of Erica Schultz for the first nine games and some injuries limited the Boxers’ effectiveness over the first two months.
After opening the season with a 98-72 home loss to Concordia (Ore.), the Boxers spent the next month and a half on the road. The Boxers played their next nine games away from the Stoller Center, which included the opening weekend of the Northwest Conference season and a trip to southern California for three games. The Boxers picked up their first win on Nov. 28 at Walla Walla, 75-53.
The SoCal trip proved to be a positive experience as the Boxers went 2-1, beating Whittier 70-58 on Dec. 18 and La Verne, 71-68, on Dec. 21. The trip started a strong that saw the Boxers win four of five games. The La Verne game started a three-game win streak, which culminated in the Boxers’ first conference win of the year. In their first game at home since the season opener, Pacific scored a 71-66 victory over Willamette on Jan. 7.
Pacific struggled for much of the league schedule, not winning again until posting a 78-57 victory at home against Pacific Lutheran on Jan. 29. The Boxers finished the year with perhaps their biggest victory of the season, going overtime to overcome Whitworth 61-59 on Feb. 19.
YOUTHFUL BACKCOURT: With the departure of three senior guards from the previous season, the Boxers turned to a trio of younger guards to lead the way in the backcourt.
Sophomore Kristen Corrales stepped up to provide much of the work as the team’s starting point guard. Starting 24 games after playing in just eight games in her freshman campaign, Corrales finished third for the Boxers in scoring with 7.3 points per game and finished second in assists with 36 (1.5 assists per game). Corrales also tied for third for the Boxers with 25 steals. Her best scoring performances came early in the season as Corrales scored double figures in six of the Boxers’ first nine games. She scored a season high 19 points against Corban on Dec. 7.
After two years coming off the bench, Kandice McArthur worked her way into the starting five at shooting guard. A starter in 19 of 23 games played, McArthur averaged 6.8 points per game and was the second-leading three-point shooter on the team, connecting on 34.9 percent from long range. She ranked 10th in the NWC in three-point percentage and ranked 11th with 1.39 three-pointers made per game. McArthur finished with six double-digit scoring performances. She scored a season-high 19 points at Lewis & Clark on Feb. 11 and had a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds at Pacific Lutheran on Dec. 3.
Ashley Jacobs saw limited time in 15 games as a freshman, but saw her reserve role greatly increased as a sophomore. Jacobs saw action in 23 of the Boxers’ 25 games and started three games, averaging 5.3 points per game. Her season was topped by a 15-point performance in 35 minutes against La Verne on Dec. 21.
HARD WORK PAYS OFF: Brittney Anderson’s hallmark over her first two seasons was a work ethic that never quit on the floor. After an off-season recovering from knee surgery, Anderson’s hard-nosed style of play only got better.
Anderson worked her way into the starting lineup as a junior, starting 23 of the team’s 25 games. She continued to be a blue-collar presence for the Boxer son the blocks, averaging 5.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per contest. She had the second most total rebounds on the team, pulling down a total of 113. Anderson finished with a pair of double-doubles, topped by a 13-point, 10-rebound performance against La Verne on Dec. 21.
EYES TOWARD THE FUTURE: The experience this young Pacific squad gained this year is sure to pay dividends coming into the 2011-12 season. The Boxers lost only one senior, Jenny Novak, who joined the team only for the 2010-11 season. Of the team’s 14 potential returners, only three will be back as seniors: Erica Schultz, Kandice McArthur and Sarah Smith.
SEASON SUMMARY
Overall Record: 7-18
NWC Record: 3-13 (8th)
Home Record: 3-7 Away Record: 4-11
SEASON HONORS
Second Team All-Northwest Conference: Erica Schultz (F)
Honorable Mention All-Northwest Conference: Paige Jensen (F)
