With many returning players as well as notable new additions, the UCSD women’s basketball team is looking to improve on last season’s already impressive performance.

“”Our expectations are to win the conference championships, make it to the Elite Eight and Final Four and win the national championships,”” junior guard Jillian Ricks said.

While the team did not quite win a national championship, it did enjoy unexpected success last season under head coach Janell Jones’ first year at UCSD.

“”Last year we weren’t expected to win; we weren’t ranked,”” junior captain and forward Alexis Mezzetta said. “”All our good seniors had left, but we were motivated. Our coach motivated us to work hard and we had nothing to lose.””

Under Jones’ guidance, the team posted a 23-5 overall record and a 17-3 record in the conference, earning them second place in California Collegiate Athletic Association play.

This season, the team is ranked first in its conference and 21st overall. “”We expect to be targeted now by other teams in the conference,”” senior captain and guard Leora Juster said.

Last year’s CCAA winner, Chico State, received more first-place votes than the Tritons, but Chico State also received a third-place vote, which contributed to its second-place CCAA ranking.

Chico State looks to be UCSD’s toughest competition in the conference this season, and the Tritons will face the Wildcats right out of the gate in the first conference game of the season on Dec. 2.

“”Chico’s always really competitive,”” Juster said. “”It should be a good game.””

The Tritons will play Chico State after only two exhibition games against Biola University and Northwest Nazarene University.

“”Both of those teams run zone and [man to man] defenses, so we’ll be able to work on both of our offenses in those games,”” Jones said.

Since many of the players were part of the team last year, they are very comfortable playing with each other. According to Jones, several players worked out and scrimmaged together over the summer.

“”They have a better feel for each other because of their summer workouts,”” Jones said.

The team also knows Jones a lot better this season since it is her second year coaching the Tritons.

“”We’re used to our coach and how the program runs,”” Juster said. “”We know to just go in, get our work in and leave.””

Jones believes that the team’s main strength is its strong work ethic.

“”The players really like each other and enjoy playing together,”” she said. “”At the same time, they work really hard.””

Ricks noted the different strengths of individuals on the team as the team’s overall strength. “”I think this year’s going to be a good year,”” Ricks said. “”I think we’ll do better than last year and considering how last year’s team [performed], that’s really good.””

Ricks transferred to UCSD from Orange Coast College and is one of a handful of promising new players on this Triton team.

“”We have a really good freshman class,”” Mezzetta said. “”They work really hard, pushing everyone in practice.””

Mezzetta believes that freshmen guard Kelsey Janusch and forward Erin Noonan have a chance to help the team this year. She also mentioned transfer students Ricks and junior guard Marla Mason as new players who may have an impact on the team this season.

In addition to Chico State, Cal State Bakersfield and Cal State Los Angeles appear to be the Tritons’ toughest competition in the conference.

According to Mezzetta, defense is the key to success for this year’s team.

“”We have amazing scorers, so if we play good defense, we’ll win games,”” she said.