Boychuk-Bolla reviews conference

By Gerald Frazier
Daily Forty-Niner

The following is a brief look at the 49ers' competition in the Big West Conference through the commentary of Long Beach State women's basketball Head Coach Dallas Boychuk-Bolla.

UC Irvine (12-15 overall, 5-10 Big West Conference): "They were up and down last year and didn't end on a very good note, because they didn't go to the conference tournament. They have a lot of new players on their team and I don't really know how they are going to do. It depends upon how those new players develop."

Cal State Fullerton (2-25, 1-14): "They only won a couple of games in the conference, but they do have a new coach and she did sign a lot of new players. I definitely think they will be better this year."

Idaho  (13-15, 6-8): "I think Idaho is going to be tough. They did loose Ali Nieman, who was their all time leading scorer. They are always a very good three point shooting team, and I think they will do well."

Boise State (14-14, 7-7): "I think they are going to be good. They made it to the conference tournament and did well. They have a lot of returning players. I think they are going to be one of the top few teams in the conference."

Pacific (18-11, 8-7): "Pacific won 18 games last year, they were on the bubble of getting an NIT bid. They had a good year last year so I think they will do well."

Cal Poly (9-19, 5-10): "Cal Poly made it to the tournament last year,  they were the No. 4 team on the West Side. They are historically a smaller team, mostly a guard-oriented team."

UC Santa Barbara (30-4, 15-10): "I think they are going to be good. They  lost Erin Buescherr, their leading scorer and best player last year, but they still have players coming in. They had one of the top recruiting classes. They should be good again, they are ranked in the top 25."

Marten Lewerth/Daily Forty-Niner

Crystal Givens and the 49ers play in the Maryland Terrapin Classic Saturday.