Major kudos to Head Coach Jen Gross and her staff: Joe Terramoto, Matt Klemin, Vicki Baugh, Mia Gallo and Deja James.

Regardless of the outcome of tomorrow’s afternoon’s crucial matchup against UC Irvine, or what happens at the Big West Tournament next week, this season has to rank as one of the best, if not the best coaching job of Gross’ 15 year tenure. The Aggies will finish no worse than 3rd in the Big West regular season race. That’s right where the Big West Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll in mid-October had the Aggies pegged.

Despite subsequent injuries that wiped out a solid looking bench, Gross and her staff have a young Aggie team in position to grab a share of the regular season championship. It’s admittedly a long shot, as the Ags not only need to take down the Anteaters on Senior Day, but Santa Barbara needs to get a road win at UCSD later that afternoon. Either will be difficult, both is huge ask. But after playing short-handed all season, being anywhere close to nabbing a share of the championship is pretty amazing.

There’s no disparaging the efforts of freshmen Emmy Ersdala, Sophie Lentfer, Theoni Tsami and Carrington Davis. They’ve stepped up all season. But I’ve no doubt that a second unit of Ally Fitzgerald (medically retired before 1st game), Helen Matthews (season-ending knee injury before 1st game), Sahana Kanagasabay (season-ending knee injury during 1st game) along with Baker (also missed first 3 games with an ankle injury) would have been more effective and productive. Absent those players, most of UCD’s starters have played far more minutes than a typical Aggie team. And Davis has lacked a true backup post player all season, forcing forwards Tegan Young and Tsami to battle larger post players to provide Megan Norris short breaks. Down the stretch, the “bench” has largely become Vic Baker at either guard or forward.

This group of Aggies has become a resilient team that keeps playing hard regardless of the score. It’s a team that’s been able to regroup during games and stage impressive (Gonzaga), and often successful (Hawaii, UCSD) comebacks. It’s one that has bounced back from disappointing (Santa Barbara), and sometimes crushing Stanford, (Irvine, Hawaii) losses to grind out tough wins (UCSD, Sac State, Long Beach). The longest “losing streak” has been 2 games. It’s a group that continues to play for, and to celebrate, each other despite changing roles and minutes.

Coaching job well done!