By MICHAEL COIT
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Bronte Sheahan, Sonoma State junior; All-Empire at Ursuline.
The Seawolves’ leading scorer, Sheahan averages more than 10 points per game and works well around the basket on both ends of the court, pulling down four rebounds per contest. Last season, Sheahan scored more than six points per game to improve on a solid freshman campaign. In her first year, Sheahan was a top reserve, averaging five-plus points and more than two rebounds per game.
Hannah Sourek, Sonoma State, sophomore; two-time All-Empire at Santa Rosa.
Another bright spot for the Seawolves, Sourek is third in rebounding with six boards per game, scores 10 points per contest and is third in steals. As a freshman, Sourek started four games and put up good numbers with four points and three rebounds a game.
McKennan Bertsch, UC San Diego junior; three-time All-Empire at Santa Rosa.
A strong contributor, the athletic Bertsch averages 8 points and 6 rebounds for the Tritons, one of the California Collegiate Athletic Association’s top teams. UC San Diego reached the NCAA Division II tournament each of her first two seasons. As a sophomore, Bertsch started much of the season averaging five points and more than three rebounds, and was second on the team in offensive boards. Bertsch averaged two points and two rebounds per contest.
McKenzie Mangino, Hawaii-Hilo junior; All-Empire at Ursuline.
From Ukiah, the post player has made a strong transition from two seasons at Santa Rosa Junior College. Mangino is third on her team in scoring, averaging 8 points per game and is second averaging 6 rebounds. She’s started all of her games in her first season with Hawaii-Hilo.
Whitney Edens, Hawaii-Hilo junior; All-Big 8 at SRJC; two-time All-Empire Small School Player of the Year for Cloverdale.
A part-time starter for Hawaii-Hilo, the athletic wing averages five points and four rebounds per game for the Vulcans, in the Pacific West Conference.
Ashley Morgan, Cal State Monterey Bay senior; All-Big 8 Conference at SRJC; Maria Carrillo.
Morgan is second in scoring with 9 points per game, and is the team’s top 3-point shooter. She leads the Otters in rebounds with 7 a game.
Kate Bayes, Fort Lewis College sophomore; All-Empire Small School Player of the Year for Sonoma Academy.
She transferred to Fort Lewis from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. A top reserve, Bayes averages four points and three rebounds a game. Followed head coach Jason Flores, who was a Nebraska-Omaha assistant.
Claire Donnelly, Claremont McKenna freshman; two-time All-Empire at Montgomery.
The post star is one of the team’s top rebounders as well as a solid scorer. Claremont-McKenna is second in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Aaliyah Sowards, Menlo College freshman; All-Empire at Maria Carrillo.
An All-Empire athlete at Maria Carrillo, she’s fourth in scoring for Menlo. Sowards averages eight points per game and is fourth on the team in both assists and free throws made. Menlo College leads the California Pacific Conference.
