WBB Season Outlook
While the De Anza College women's basketball team enters the 2021-22 season as defending conference champions, the program has a new head coach and a majority of new players.
First-year head coach Aniya Baker will lean on three returners from two years ago: point guard Danielle Gezzi (Gunderson), forward Capri Pezzella (Fremont), and small forward Catherine Clear (Santa Clara), as the newcomers acclimate to college basketball.
After the 2020-21 season was canceled due to COVID, Baker spent the year rebuilding the roster and a lot of time with team meetings on Zoom.
It's been a long time coming for Tuesday's season-opener at home against Porterville College.
"We are super excited to start the season," Baker said.
"Our team has been working hard and it will be great to see us on the court for the real thing."
BACKCOURT
In 2019-20, Gezzi was a front-runner for conference Player of the Year consideration, as teammate Anisah Douglas (Florida A&M) won the award.
Gezzi ranked third in conference scoring (19 ppg), led the Coast-South in steals, and finished fourth in assists – as De Anza posted a record of 18-11.
"We are looking for Danielle to build off her freshman season," Baker said.
"Danielle is talented in many areas and has experience playing big minutes against tough competition. We are looking forward to her continued development as our floor general."
Freshman Ashley Sipanya (Silver Creek) will be provide depth as a combo guard.
"Ashley is coming along nicely," Baker said. "She gives us a lot of options with her versatility to be able to handle the ball and create her own shots."
Shooting guards Tianna Ngo (Silver Creek) and Annie Do (Silver Creek) will help spread the floor with their ability to shoot behind the arc.
"Tianna is a great shooter and Annie also gives us a spark defensively with supreme confidence," Baker added.
Freshman Toey Lui (Hong Kong) "brings us more energy and she works extremely hard," Baker said.
"All of our guards can play fast and will be scrappy on defense. That's the identity of this group."
FRONT COURT
The post position is equally talented and multi-faceted, says Baker.
Pezzella played in all 29 games her freshman season, averaging 5.0 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.
"Capri brings much-needed experience and is a vocal leader for us – a great communicator," Baker said.
"She can knock down jumpers and has great potential for a breakout season."
Clear appeared in 25 games as a freshman. Her role is expected to increase this season.
"Catherine is very fundamental, which we have been preaching since Day One," Baker said.
"She knows how to use her footwork and has the ability to hit jumpers for us."
Baker thinks her X-factors could be freshman post players 6-foot-2 Naiya Edwards (Westmont) and 5-11 Maryaam Sallam (Cupertino).
"They not only give us height in the paint, but they can also score in different ways in the half court," she said.
"Naiya played point guard in high school, so she can play inside and out. She can play off the ball and use her speed around the key."
"Maryaam gives us a lot of energy, and can run from rim to rim. She creates challenges for the defense and can be explosive at both ends."
TEAM CHEMISTRY
Overall, Baker said, the team continues to come together and will improve as the season goes along.
"We are hard-working and the chemistry is very good," Baker said.
"We want a strong culture and want a team that takes pride in representing De Anza College. "I like the underdog mentality we have embraced and look forward to going on this journey with this team."
The Mountain Lions will play eight games in November (three at home) and six games in December (two at home) before opening the Coast Conference season in January.