ROHNERT PARK, CALIF. - Second year head coach Des Abeyta continues to move the Seawolves women's basketball program forward with their 7th straight conference tournament appearance. Sonoma State rode the waves this season but came out on top, winning 5 of their final 7 regular season games to play their way into the postseason tournament. They would out score their opponents 410-365 and out rebound them 262-252 during their 7-game stretch. 

TEAM SUCCESS

The Seawolves have found scoring from multiple players this season and in different ways as six players are currently averaging at least 6 points per game. Senior center Emerson Herrmann gives the team a great post presence as she's averaging a career high in points (6.3) and rebounds (5.1). While Sienna Cherwinski and Trena Rathjen bolster the team's perimeter shooting, combining for 59 three's and 194 as a team to rank 5th in the CCAA. SSU has recorded double-digit three pointers in five games this season. 

The Seawolves don't just catch fire from beyond the arc, they also rank as the 3rd best defensive team in the conference, holding their opponents to just 62 points per game. They've recorded 13 games this season holding their opponents to under 60 points and have also taken down four of the other five teams in the conference tournament, making them a threat to beat anyone on any given night. 

STAR POWER  

Adding to the team's success is one of the premier scorers in the entire league, senior forward Alli McDonald. McDonald exploded for a career year, averaging over 16 points and 10 rebounds per game, one of just three players to average a double-double. Over the final 7 games of the regular season, McDonald has maintained that pace averaging 15 and 10 which also included a massive 20-rebound game against Stanislaus State. She was named to the All-CCAA First Team earlier this week for the second consecutive season. 

Fellow senior Jayme Blackard anchors the team's back court as one of the best two-way point guards in the league. Blackard has also put together a career season averaging nearly 12 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists per game. Her explosiveness off the dribble makes her one of the toughest guards to defend in the league. She ranks inside the top-15 in the conference in assists (101) and steals (42). 

A sneaky dark horse for the Seawolves has been senior shooting guard Trena Rathjen. Rathjen has had an injury riddled career but has come on in a huge way for Sonoma State late in the season. In the previous 7 games, Rathjen has been averaging 10 points per game and is shooting the three ball at a staggering 57% to lead the team. During that stretch, she exploded for a career high 21 points on 5-7 shooting from three to take down San Francisco State 71-46.   

LOOKING AHEAD

Earning the 6th seed in the tournament, Sonoma State will take on the three seed in Cal Poly Pomona on Thursday, March 7th at 12:00 PM. The conference tournament will be held at Cal State San Bernardino at Coussoulis Arena. Tickets can be bought online at sonomaseawolves.com and you can stream the game LIVE on the CCAA Network. 

Be sure to follow your Seawolves on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to get all the latest SSU athletics updates and information. Sonoma State athletics also has launched a new fan app in partnership with From Now On. Download the free app today in both the Apple and Google Play stores by searching Sonoma State Seawolves in the app store. @SonomaSeawolves | #NomaNation