May 19, 2010

SEASIDE, Calif. – Cal State Monterey Bay women's basketball head coach #Renee Jimenez# announced today the signing Ventura College's Amanda Padilla, Kris King and Erika Ward, members of the 2010 California Community College Athletic Association State Championship team.

All three future Otters shared the Most Valuable Player honors after leading Ventura to its sixth state title and 20th Western State Conference title under the direction of head coach Ned Mircetic. Jimenez and assistant coach Tina Samaniego were both members of the 2001 Ventura College State Championship team.

The trio was named to the WSC All-Academic team on top of finishing in the conference's top 10 in scoring average.

"The CSUMB family welcomes Amanda, Erika and Kris,” Jimenez said. “We have signed three talented and intelligent, young women who are going to bring exciting basketball to the Kelp Bed.   All three are proven winners and we look forward to them immediately being a huge part to our championship run next season.”

Amanda Padilla is a native of Buena High School in Ventura and was named to the 2010 State Farm Coaches' JC/CC All-American honorable mention team.  She was also named to the All-State first team and All-WSC first team. Padilla led the team in 3-point field goal percentage (42.7) and second in points per game (13.0).  

"Amanda was the smartest point guard in the state this past season,” Jimenez said. “She has an NBA point guards mentality, can make an 80-foot pass on a dime and makes every correct read in the pick and roll.  She is extremely crafty and is going to work well in our NBA style offensive system."

Kris King, a 5-foot-11 forward from Royal High School in Simi Valley, averaged 12.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 0.78 blocks during the 2009-10 season.  She earned All-WAC first team honors as well as Ventura's Scholar Athlete Award.

"Kris was probably the most overlooked post player in the state and we definitely got a steal,” Jimenez said. “I think she is going to surprise a lot of people who thought she was undersized.  She makes great reads for a post player and is a big time finisher around the bucket. I am looking for Kris to make an immediate impact on our team this season."

The 5-foot-8 Erika Ward started in all 70 games in her two years at Ventura, leading the Pirates in steals (64) and 3-point field goals made (70) in her sophomore season.  Ward was a two-time All-WAC first team selection.

"Erika scored 51 points in a game, had a triple-double in a playoff game and is a lights-out shooter who is going to have big nights in our offense,” Jimenez said. “As much as she can fill up the bucket with the best of them, the most overlooked part of her game is how hard she plays on the defensive end of the floor which is important for our style of play."

The three players join a CSUMB program that continues to improve in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), making its first conference tournament appearance and finishing the 2009-10 season with an 18-9 overall record and 14-8 in league play.

“These three young women will undoubtedly help bring our program its first CCAA Championship,” Jimenez said.  “We would like to welcome Erika, Kris, Amanda and their families to our MB family!