Women's Basketball: Season Preview

PALM DESERT, Calif. - The College of the Desert Women's basketball team comes into the 2015-2016 season with high hopes and high expectations. Based on the Lady Roadrunners' performances during the non-traditional viewing period, held the final two weekends in September, the Roadrunners will be athletic with the ability to run the court and play an aggressive style of full-court defense. 

The team is anchored by four returners from the 2014-15 team, including Ruby Carillo and Charyne Toribio, First and Second-Team All-Foothill Conference players, respectively. Hannah Hughes, the 3-point shooter, and Bianca Gutierrez, the returning point guard, will again play alongside Ruby and Charyne this season.

New additions include: Chelsea Reese, who is a phenomenal athlete, player and leader from the state of Georgia via the University of Tennessee at Knoxville; six-foot tall Ashley Preist from Yucca Valley High in Yucca where she left a legacy as one of, if not the, best female athletes to ever play a sport for that school; Reina West from San Jacinto high school was the 24^th-best 3-point shooter in all of the CIF at the end of the 14-15 season, and it looks like she will be even more prolific at the college level; Lauren Tijerina from La Quinta high school provides strength and determination in the low post area; Leslie Segovia returns to complete her sophomore season after having played for the Roadrunners during the 12-13 season. Lili has endured innumerable hardships only to return stronger and wiser and more dedicated; and Yuka Ando, who arrived from Tokyo, Japan in late August, makes the Lady Roadrunners hard to defeat-- her passing, defense and uncanny style of play are sure to please the basketball purist in all of us. Two local athletes complete the roster:  Jerrica Perez from Shadow Hills high school played all positions for the Lady Knights. Perez is without a doubt a "gym rat", constantly striving to improve her game while supporting her teammates. She is tough, physical and has an unmatched passion for the game. Lastly, Kelcey Beckham, will be wearing a COD uniform. Kelcey played for Indio high school and Coach Martin White. A highly coveted recruit, Kelcey is a stellar athlete and a fierce competitor. Her quickness and basketball intuition are seemingly limitless as is her desire to win.

The team is coached by Skip Parry, the Head Coach and Danielle Walker his Assistant of five years. They work in tandem year in and year out to prepare the ladies for competition, and it is their privilege to do so.

The recipe for success is here, on this campus and in the gym. The players and coaches mentioned will do their very best to compete and represent the College of the Desert this year and every year thereafter.