Toros Pose With Their Championship Banner At Net Cutting Ceremony Hosted By CSUDH. Photo Courtesy of @CSUDHwbb on Twitter
By Raymond Castillo Sports Editor
The 2022-23 season has been utterly historic for California State University, Dominguez Hills and the most dominant Division II women’s basketball team as they finished the regular season 27-1. The best record in school history is more than good enough for the California Collegiate Athletic Association regular season championship, first seed in the conference tournament, and a spot in the CSUDH history books regardless of how the postseason plays out.
Led by this year’s CCAA Coach of the Year, John Bonner and his squad have earned a CSUDH single season record for most wins in school history for women’s basketball with a sparkling record of 27-1. Not to be lost in the amazing season is their CSUDH program record of 19 straight victories to open the season.
Bonner’s squad ran through the regular season, beating their opponents by nearly an average of 20 points (18.6). After being in the conference tournament three out of the last four years, Bonner stepped on the gas this season and achieved the biggest turnaround in program history for wins year over year with 16.
As Bonner likes, the focus shifts to the players as they themselves were decorated nicely by the CCAA awards. The Toro ladies nearly swept the conference awards this season, taking home three of the four individual player awards.
The team was led by CCAA Player of the Year, CCAA Defensive Player of the Year, and All-CCAA First Team member, Dawnyel Lair. Lair is the sixth Toro in history to receive the Player of the Year award, and first since the 1996-97 season. Lair averaged 14.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. Lair also finished the season first in the CCAA in steals, field goal percentage, and rebounds. She finished second in assists.
Freshman, Nala Williams picked up the first CCAA Freshman of the Year for the program since 2006-07. Williams, the Long Beach Poly product averaged 13.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.3 steals while starting every game she played. Williams’ great season also awarded her a spot on the All-CCAA Second Team.
Sophomore, Asia Jordan joins teammate Lair on the All-CCAA First Team for her second straight season. Jordan played magnificent all season long for the Toros as she ranked second in the CCAA in field goal percentage, ninth in rebounds per game, 11th in free throw percentage, and 17th in blocks.
Danyell Booker was named to the CCAA Honorable Mentions list. Booker, the sophomore, played well all season as she averaged 7.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, which is good for fourth on the team respectively. Booker was most valuable for the Toros coming off the bench and providing a defensive spark.
Joe’l Benoit joined Booker on the CCAA Honorable Mentions list for 2023. Benoit is a valuable member for the Toros as she started 15 of her 26 games filling a multitude of roles. Benoit’s averages of 7.1 points and 3.5 rebounds per game notched her fifth on the team in points, rebounds, assists and steals.
Now that the regular season is over, the hard work has just begun for the Toros. Bonner and his squad are ranked 5th in the country after the regular season, and are looking to do more damage. In the playoffs, you win and you advance or you lose and you go home. The time is now for the Toros as they are set on completing their quest of bringing the NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Championship trophy to Carson for the first time in history.
