SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Cosumnes River College women’s basketball coach Coral Sage released her team’s 2013-14 schedule yesterday afternoon. The schedule features four tournaments and a pair of away games prior to the Hawks Big 8 conference schedule. The Hawks schedule includes CRC’s annual tournament, the CRC Invitational.
CRC’s year will begin on the road, as three tournaments and two single games will all be played away from the confines of Clark Court. The Hawks tipoff their 2013-14 campaign in Stockton, as they will participate in the Delta College Tournament beginning on November 8th. The tournament field is expected to be “loaded,” according to head coach Coral Sage, and is expected to be competitive as always. Fresno City College, who has appeared in the last two CCCAA Final Four's hosted by Cosumnes River College, will headline the tournament.
Cosumnes River returns home briefly to host their own tournament, as the Hawks will appear in their annual CRC Invitational, from November 14-16. “It’s a competitive tournament that features some new teams this year… it’s a diverse pool,” says Sage of the tournament field. Among the teams participating will be tournament newcomers Grossmont College of El Cajon in San Diego County, as well as Shasta College. Feather River, Hartnell, Redwoods, Chabot, as well as Big 8 rival American River, all return this season to the tournament.
The Hawks also look to continue their home and home series with Siskiyous (Nov. 20), which this season, returns north to Weed. CRC continues their road trip by heading south to Lemoore, where the Hawks will take on the Falcons of West Hills College (Nov. 26). West Hills is a relative new comer to women’s basketball, as this is only the program’s second season in existence. CRC concludes the nonconference portion of their schedule with a pair of tournaments in December. The Hawks will head west to participate in the annual tournament at Solano (Dec. 13), before heading to De Anza College to play in the Mike Gervisoni Classic (Dec. 28).
The Big 8 conference looks to be competitive once again, with perennial powers Santa Rosa, Sierra and Delta, as well as CRC, competing for top playoff seeds. CRC opens Big 8 play on January 7 at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill. The Hawks then open a two-game homestand against crosstown rivals American River College (Jan. 10) and Sacramento City College (Jan. 14). Tip-off for those games will be 5:30 and 7:30 respectively. The team’s final home game will be played February 18 against Modesto Junior College. That game will begin at 5:30.
Head coach Coral Sage is excited with the group of returners she brings back to the fold this season. Janie Myles, who redshirted last season, is a dominant post player who should be among the top newcomers to the conference this year. Sophomore guard Jade Sowell-Hundon, the conference’s third-leading scorer last season, also returns to the CRC backcourt. Mele Kolokihakaufisi, a junior college transfer guard from American River, is also expected to contribute to the Hawks backcourt. Kolokihakaufisi averaged over 10 points a game as a true freshman, contributing a pair of assists per contest while shooting the ball efficiently from the perimeter. Coach Sage has also been impressed by the development of sophomore Miya Oakes, who has improved much over the summer. Oakes is expected to take on a leadership role with the team, and will factor heavily in the Hawks backcourt this year.
Tickets are available at the door for each event. Admission is always free for CRC faculty, staff, and students with valid identification.