Sacramento State women’s basketball head coach Jamie Craighead has carried over a successful, up-tempo style of play that was developed midway through last season.

And doing so for all the right reasons.

Last year’s women’s basketball team had a season that included both lows and historic highs. After starting the season just 4-12, the team changed its gameplan. With the new style of play, the Hornets finished the season strong winning 11 out of their final 14 games, which included a seven-game winning streak.

“Our team came together at the right time, pieces fell into place, and everyone bought into how we were going to play,” Craighead said. “Once those things happened, the scoreboard was in favor of the Hornets.”

Last year’s 15-15 regular season record was the best in school history for the Hornets at the Division I level and they made it to the Big Sky Conference playoffs as a No. 3 seed.

“Every team member played their role and doing so, the 2009-10 team made some history,” Craighead said. “It was a great way for our seniors to finish up their careers.”

This is going to be Craighead’s second season at Sac State and she has brought with her a new strategy for both the offense and defense.

“We run a fast break offense and a full court defense,” Craighead said. “We are looking to get up 85 to 90 shots a game and want the score to be up in the 80’s, 90’s and 100’s even.”

The team has been running drills like the eight second shot clock scrimmage to improve the their ability to run the court. The drill consists of two teams of five, each having only eight seconds to put up a shot before they must forfeit the ball.

“We like to think that our team is in better shape than any of our competitors,” said senior guard Tika Koshiyama-Diaz. “Our goal is to tire out our opponents and we achieve this by rigorous preseason conditioning.”

Craighead feels that by teaching the girls to play at a faster pace, they will have an advantage each time they step on the court.

“Other teams are going to hit a wall, that they won’t know how to push through and our kids will because of the conditioning,” Craighead said. “Anytime you can have your opponent engage in your style of playing you immediately gain the upper hand and can force them into making mistakes.”

Along with the new system Craighead has put in place, the Hornets have also added some new faces to the team. The young squad has only three seniors, two juniors and only two starters return – senior forward Emily Christensen and senior guard Tika Koshiyama-Diaz.

“Coach Craighead recruited a lot of athletic girls which plays into our strengths,” Christensen said. “Youth won’t be a drawback this season as long as they watch what the upperclassman are doing and so far they are doing great.”

The team is also welcoming in two new assistant coaches, Jourdan Willard and Michelle Augustavo. Willard has been a player, student assistant and director of basketball operations here at Sac State. Willard’s major responsibilities are focused in recruiting, wing/trail post play and coordinating team travel.

“She was a great leader as player here, but was hampered by injuries,” Craighead said. “Sometimes the ones who have had their playing careers cut short have a lot left to offer and give back.”

Augustavo played college basketball at the University of Washington and spent last season working on the Seattle University women’s basketball coaching staff. Augustavo works primarily with the shooting guards and helps with recruiting, guard play and coordinating the teams summer camps.

“She is a great addition especially being from the Northwest, which is a very big recruiting area for us,” Craighead said. “She has always wanted to coach at this level and has been pursuing coaching since graduation from the University of Washington.”

This year, the team will also be going without three graduating starters from last season – Ashley Garcia, Erika Edwards and Charday Hunt.

The three combined for 38.1 points per game last season with a shooting percentage of .386.

Craighead said she is confident that this year’s team will carry the momentum that was built during the strong finish of last year’s season.

“I have high expectations every year and this year is no different,” Craighead said. “There is a level of excellence in our athletic department that is expected among all of our sports teams. We do our best to be a part of that standard. We want to represent the university well. Win or lose we will be exciting and will be competitive.”

The Hornets open regular season play on the road Nov. 12 at the University of the Pacific. The first chance to see them at home will be Nov. 14 against Fresno State, who is picked to finish first in the Western Athletic Conference, according to the Media Poll.

Brad Schmidt can be reached at [email protected]