COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS NOTEBOOK: CANYONS TRIES TO WIN WITH SEVERAL NEWCOMERS.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

VALENCIA - The first half of the College of the Canyons' women's basketball season is usually the time for sophomores to do the bulk of the work and the freshmen to gain confidence and get comfortable with the Cougars' fast-break system.

Not this season.

Eight of Canyons' 11 players are newcomers on a team with no returning starters.

``That's difficult,'' Cougars coach Greg Herrick said. ``With such a young team, there's a lot of ups and downs. It's such a learning experience for us right now.

``Sometimes, we look like the Lakers. Other times, we look like the fakers. I guess the Lakers have struggled, but we don't have Shaq sitting on the bench.''

What the Cougars do have is sophomore forward Marissa Meadows, a former Valencia High standout who transferred this year from Cal Lutheran. She is Canyons' leading scorer, averaging 18.8 points a game as well as 5.4 rebounds. At 6-foot-1, she also brings height to a team with only two players taller than 5-10.

Freshman Christina Aguinaga, a 5-5 guard out of Taft of Woodland Hills, has been another bright spot, as was the 16-rebound performance by sophomore Graciela Coronado in Saturday's 92-83 victory over Hancock.

Herrick, in his 11th season at Canyons, can't remember ever having a team this young.

``Never,'' he said. ``The only team I can compare this to is the first one when I came in and everyone was learning the system.

``This team is talented. We've got some very good players. But they're learning how to play at the junior college level. In high school they can get away with a lot. ...Strategically we're very limited in what we do. Our kids now are still buying into the system.''

Last week was an encouraging sign as the Cougars won all three of their games to improve to 5-2.

Canyons is off until beginning play in the Pasadena Rose City Classic on Dec. 5.

``We've got a long time to go before (Western State) conference (play) starts,'' Herrick said. ``I think we're going to be a great team. That may be next week, that may be next month, it may be next year. Hopefully, it'll be sooner than later. It's a slow process. It's almost like building a machine.''

--Shrinking roster: The women's basketball team suffered two losses before it even played a game as the Cougars lost the services of two members of the original 13-player roster. Freshman guards Reann Cordova and Amber Buehlman are both expected to miss the season.

Cordova was called up to active duty from the Air Force reserves. Buehlman suffered a torn ACL during practice.

--Postseason bound: Despite losing both matches last week to drop to third place in the WSC South Division, the women's volleyball team qualified for the playoffs. The 13th-seeded Cougars (14-7) open regional playoffs tonight at No. 4 Orange Coast (17-3).

The football team is also looking forward to the postseason, having earned a spot in the Dec. 7 Southern California Bowl, in which a victory would earn the right to play for the state title. The school is considering a fan package that would include a bus ride, lunch and admission to the game at Chaffey College if there is enough interest. Price is yet to be determined. Contact [phone].