Depth Will Be Key to USD’s Attack : Women’s basketball: San Diego State starting nearly from scratch.

SAN DIEGO — University of San Diego women’s basketball coach Kathy Marpe has a secret weapon.

Something so simple, but so volatile, that it will leave West Coast Conference opponents exhausted and begging for a reprieve.

It’s depth .

That might sound silly but it’s not. Just when opponents start to tire, Marpe can replace at any position and get similar results as with her starters.

“We overpower with our depth,” Marpe said. “We have two at every spot and we don’t lose anything when we substitute.”

Three top returners are sophomore 6-5 center Chris Enger, 6-3 senior forward/center Christi English and 6-2 junior forward/center Linda Jones.

Last year as a freshman, Enger, a Vista High graduate, was named to the WCC All-Conference team and WCC Freshman of the Year. She established conference and school records in game rebounds (24), game blocks (12) and season blocks (96). Last summer Enger was on the West team at the Olympic Festival in Minneapolis.

“We have a pretty strong inside game,” Marpe said. “On any given night any of those three can pop and get 20 points.

“We score in spurts. Teams can handle it for a while then we’ll score six in a row and eventually wear them down.”

USD lost two key players to graduation but had others to slide into the vacant positions.

Point guard Paula Mascari, a three-point specialist, was replaced by 5-5 sophomore Angie Straub, who Marpe says “is really talented and quick.” Freshman Melisa Sortino, 5-7, is Straub’s backup at point guard.

A question mark remains at the guard position vacated by Candida Echeverria, who was USD’s leading scorer, averaging 13.5 points a game. Sharing time at that position are 5-8 junior bDebbie Gollnick and 5-7 junior Julie Doria, a San Pasqual graduate.

“Right now we’re weak at the position,” Marpe said. “It’s necessary for one of the other to step up and score.”

On the bench are forward/guards, 6-1 freshman Jill Shaver and 5-10 senior Molly Hunter.

Last year USD (17-10 overall and 7-7 in conference) finished in a tie for third place in the WCC with Loyola Marymount.

“Our goal is to win the conference,” Marpe said. “We weren’t happy with last year’s 7-7 finish. We’ve never won it but I think it’s a very realistic goal.”

Marpe said St. Mary’s, which lost only one player, would be the toughest conference competition.

San Diego State

Western Athletic Conference

89-90 Record--7-23, 6-12 in Big West

89-90 Finish--8th of 10 in Big West

Unlike Marpe, whose USD team is like a ready-to-bake cake mix--just add ball and place on court--SDSU Coach Beth Burns must start from scratch.

Burns has the necessary ingredients but how she blends them into a successful team will affect the Aztecs’ performance in their new conference.

“The biggest difference over last year is that we have six new players,” Marpe said. “We’re light years ahead of last year. At this time last year we were gathering walk-ons. This year we have a team but the biggest challenge is taking 10 individuals and having them jell as a team,” Burns said.

SDSU lost leading scorer Julie Evans, who averaged 22.3 points a game, to graduation.

Only three starters return--5-8 senior guard Dee Dee Davis, junior 5-4 guard Crystal Lee and 6-0 senior forward Melanie Usher.

As of Dec. 18, when she becomes eligible to play, UCLA transfer Michelle Miles, a 5-7 junior point guard, “will make a dramatic difference in the team,” Burns said.

Burns said that the team was working out some kinks but by the time Miles enters the lineup, SDSU should be a competitive force in the conference.

“When someone is zigging someone else is zagging,” Burns said.

Burns considers Utah and Wyoming to be the front runners in the WAC, which just added women’s athletics to the conference.

“The conference has a lot of new coaches and new athletes,” Burns said. “We feel that a top four finish is realistic.”

Point Loma Nazarene

Golden State Athletic Conference

89-90 Record--15-13, 4-6

89-90 Finish--4th of six

The Crusaders have set some lofty goals this season but PLNC Coach Bill Olin believes his team has the capability to achieve them.

But the Crusaders definitely have a long road to travel to reach their biggest goal of winning the District 3 title.

Right now PLNC’s leading scorer, junior Camille Armijo, who averaged 18.9 points a game, is still on crutches recovering from arthroscopic surgery. Olin hopes to have her practicing within three to four weeks.

Armijo, who finished second in the GSAC in scoring, started at point guard last year but moved to guard this year to make room for 5-5 freshman Christy Stevens.

Another top returner is 5-10 senior Shannon Abrams who led the GSAC by averaging 11.6 rebounds a game and who finished fourth in scoring by averaging 15.1 points a game.

Olin thinks Cal Baptist, Fresno Pacific and Biola are the top teams in the GSAC right now but with time PLNC could be a contender.

“We’re not in the same breath as those teams right now,” Olin said. “We need to prove ourselves.”

UC San Diego

Independent

1989-90 Record--13-12

Young but experienced.

Very rarely is a basketball team pegged with that label. But there’s no other way to describe UCSD, which has seven second-year players.

Two most experienced and older players are 5-10 junior forward Cari Young and 5-11 senior forward Bernadette Diepenbrock.

Last year Young, a San Pasqual graduate, led the team in scoring, averaging 14.6 points a game and in rebounding, with 8.7 rebounds a game.

UC San Diego returns its three top scorers in Young, 5-3 junior guard Kathleen Alvarez, who averaged 9.8 and 6-2 sophomore center Lisa Beaver with nine points.

“Sometimes we look real sharp,” UCSD Coach Judy Malone said. “Other times we look real young.”

UCSD has a tough schedule until after Jan. 5, when the team faces California schools. Until then, UCSD will face nationally ranked Division III schools, which will provide the toughest competition.