Women’s Basketball

The Yuba College women’s basketball team will be facing some tough competition in the Bay Valley league conference this year. Head coach Susan Crebbin said that staying healthy will play a key factor for the young 49ers team. Should the pieces come together for this year’s team, its a sure bet that returning sophomore Marie Nygard will be the glue that binds them. Last year, the Rio Vista graduate averaged nearly 9 points per game, shooting 42% from from the field, and snagging 7 boards. Through the first part of this season, Nygard has been leading the team in shooting nearly every game, including draining a team high 19 points and 10 rebounds againsdt Los Angeles City in a second round win during the College of the Sequoias Tournament earlier in the season.Aside from returner Nygard, the rest of coach Crebbin’s crew is comprised of freshmen, many of whom hail from local schools.Sarah Webster, from Sutter, was awarded Player of the Year by the Appeal-Democrat as a junior, and will be counted upon to contribute on the floor. Webster showed brilliance during the first game of the College of the Sequoias tournamentAlso from Sutter, freshman shooter Angela McCrill. The team rosters two from Yuba City High in Danielle Downer and Sarah Smith. Coming off an outstanding season as netminder from the Yuba women’s scoccer team, Erin Cunningham, from Marysville joins the basketball team now that the soccer campaign has concluded. Soccer teammate Liz Jacobsen also makes the transition to this season’s basketball squad from soccer.From Biggs comes Liz Mabray, who can play both ends of the floor well during gametime. Mabray scored 10 points, while blocking four, and stealing three during a game against L.A. City earlier in the season.A tough player on the inside, Rachel Barker, a 1999 Colfax graduate, displays what Coach Crebbin described as “old school post moves, that you don’t see much anymore in todays players,” and that toughness will be counted upon throughout the season. Yuba will need a strong bench to stay in contention with many of the Bay Valley conference powerhouse teams. Crebbin will be looking to her second stringers as she intends to have a quick transition team.The 49ers have a tough schedule and will have to rely on strong performances from all of their freshman players. Crebbin will especially look for strong performances from post-positions. She said that as her players adjust to the more physical one-on-one defense, they should match up well against the formidable Bay Valley conference opponents.