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Jordan Meyer

Women's Basketball Spencer Jones, EOU Sports Information Assistant

Women's Basketball: 2018-19 Season Preview

LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Mountaineers will look to defend their conference and tournament Cascade Collegiate Conference titles after an unblemished 20-0 conference record last season.

Eastern Oregon finished 31-3 in 2017-18, and was voted in as the seventh-best program in the NAIA to start the 2018-19 season.

Their dominance last year was fueled by three All-Americans in Stormee Van Belle, Payton Parrish and Maya Ah You Dias. However, Van Belle and Parrish have graduated from the program, leaving a few unanswered questions for the reigning CCC champs.

Trying to replace two All-Americans who combined for 27.7 points and 12.8 rebounds last season is no easy task. The Mountaineers will lean on their senior guard Ah You Dias, who was the leading scorer for the team last season at 17.8 points per game on 49.7 percent shooting.

Along with Van Belle and Parrish, starters Jessica Sexson and Mariah Swanson have also graduated from the program. The pair has been a staple for the Mountaineers in recent years, and an integral part of the 2017-18 team that went to the second round of nationals. Losing eighty percent of last years starting five leaves a void in the program, but the Mountaineers have ample talent on the roster that will attempt to fill those holes.

Senior guard Maren Herrud will play a big role with the new-look Mountaineers, averaging 21 minutes per game last year off the bench. Herrud shot 48.8 percent from behind the arc a season ago, and scored just over ten points a game. She will look to take on a bigger role this season, and will be one of the leaders on the team.

Other players to look out for in the upcoming season are junior Andi Warn, and sophomores Jillian Albright and Brandy Smith. The three guards played key minutes off the bench in 2017-18, and were very efficient in their time on the court. Also, coming off of a redshirt season is senior Khadija Neumeyer, who recorded just under ten minutes a game two seasons ago.

Although there are some unanswered questions, the talent in the program is still at a very high level, exemplified by the preseason rankings for Eastern Oregon. They are still at the top of the CCC preseason poll, and rank No. 7 nationally. The rankings are drawn by a collection of coaches' votes, who all seem to have confidence and high expectations for the Mounties.

EOU also still has the reigning CCC Coach of the Year Anji Weissenfluh, who continued dominance of the conference last season while picking up her 400th career win. 

The team will open up their 2018-19 schedule on Friday, Nov. 2, beginning a road trip in California for the Simpson Classic in Redding. After a pair of matchups with Cal Maritime and Simpson, the Mounties will return home with a scrimmage against Walla Walla CC and a contest against Whitman.

Eastern Oregon will then play an exhibition in Cheney in a matchup with NCAA Division I Eastern Washington University. The Blue and Gold last met them in the 2016-17 campaign, dropping a close exhibition 67-60.
After EWU, the Mountaineers set out on their furthest trip of the year for three games in Texas. They play in Marshall, Texas against Wiley College and then travel to Paul Quinn College for two games in Dallas.

Conference play commences on Nov. 30 in a home matchup with No. 12 Southern Oregon, who Eastern defeated three times last year, most notably in the CCC championship finals. The Mountaineers have been dominant in conference action over the last few years, going 54-6 in the last three seasons.

Quinn Coliseum will also play host to the Coach Mike Memorial Tournament on Dec. 8 and 9, playing EOU alumni and Lewis & Clark College.

The Cascade Collegiate Conference tournament begins Feb. 19, when the Mountaineers will look to defend their title. Nationals will tip-off a month later on March 16.
 
For more information on Eastern Oregon women's basketball, follow @EOUAthletics or visit eousports.com.
 
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Contact: Iain Dexter; 541-962-3946; idexter@eou.edu
 
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Players Mentioned

Payton Parrish

#21 Payton Parrish

G
5' 9"
Senior
Jessica Sexson

#20 Jessica Sexson

G
5' 5"
Senior
Mariah Swanson

#33 Mariah Swanson

F
5' 11"
Senior
Stormee Van Belle

#34 Stormee Van Belle

F
6' 0"
Senior
Maya Ah You Dias

#1 Maya Ah You Dias

G
5' 8"
Senior
Jillian Albright

#2 Jillian Albright

G
5' 9"
Sophomore
Maren Herrud

#5 Maren Herrud

G
5' 10"
Senior
Khadija Neumeyer

#11 Khadija Neumeyer

G
5' 8"
Senior
Brandy Smith

#3 Brandy Smith

G
5' 7"
Sophomore
Andi Warn

#12 Andi Warn

G
5' 6"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Payton Parrish

#21 Payton Parrish

5' 9"
Senior
G
Jessica Sexson

#20 Jessica Sexson

5' 5"
Senior
G
Mariah Swanson

#33 Mariah Swanson

5' 11"
Senior
F
Stormee Van Belle

#34 Stormee Van Belle

6' 0"
Senior
F
Maya Ah You Dias

#1 Maya Ah You Dias

5' 8"
Senior
G
Jillian Albright

#2 Jillian Albright

5' 9"
Sophomore
G
Maren Herrud

#5 Maren Herrud

5' 10"
Senior
G
Khadija Neumeyer

#11 Khadija Neumeyer

5' 8"
Senior
G
Brandy Smith

#3 Brandy Smith

5' 7"
Sophomore
G
Andi Warn

#12 Andi Warn

5' 6"
Junior
G