Women’s basketball head coach, John Bonner, looks to his team as they hype him up after wrapping up the net-cutting ceremony. Photo by Chris Perry Courtesy of CSUDH Athletics.
By Sara Bhatt, Staff Reporter
The California State University, Dominguez Hills women’s basketball team has had a remarkably historic season and continues to make history with each game. Finishing the regular season with a program-best 27-1 record, the Toros were the outright champions of the California Collegiate Athletic Association conference. To commemorate and remember the season of a lifetime, the CSUDH women’s basketball team held a net-cutting ceremony in their home gym, the Torodome.
The net-cutting ceremony, which is a longstanding basketball tradition, gathered many Toros fans from staff and students to friends and family. The ceremony began with an introduction of the team before the microphone was handed off to Dr. William Franklin, the CSUDH vice president of student affairs.
Franklin commended the team and coaching staff for an incredible season, saying, “I am so proud of what this team has achieved.” He also complimented them for being good people outside of the sport. Earlier this season, head coach John Bonner recognized that “these kids are more than just students and athletes… they’re people” which is a philosophy and mindset he has implemented in his team and coaching staff since the beginning. Franklin went on to recognize Bonner and his incredible ability to coach and mentor the team, paying him the highest respect. “Good coaches can change a game but great coaches can change a life,” Franklin said.
Following Franklin’s speech, the team went one by one up the ladder and to the hoop, cutting a piece of the net to remember their season. While each player on the roster served as an impactful link to this year’s team, Nala Williams and Dawnyel Lair have put up impressive stats and continue to do so throughout the postseason run. Both Williams and Lair earned CCAA awards (Williams: Freshman of the Year, Lair: Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year). Lair also received a Division II Conference Commissioners Association 1st Team All-Region honor, which qualifies her to be eligible for NCAA All-American status. On top of this amazing achievement, Lair was recently named a 1st Team All-American by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).
Others to get in on the net-cutting action included Franklin, strength and conditioning coach Lauren Chow, and athletic trainer Vivian Tanudjaja. Following the support staff, the coaching staff of Jaleesa Ross, Katelyn Cole and Atony Dunn cut the net and claimed their memento of the astounding year. The last but definitely not the least to cut the net was head coach, John Bonner who immediately draped the net around his neck like a necklace and looked to his team who greeted him with ear-to-ear smiles and cheers of happiness.
Last week, the Toros hosted the NCAA West Region tournament in their home gym. With a first-round bye, the Toros went on to defeat the number eight seed, Cal Poly Pomona, 87-61 and then the number four seed, Montana State University Billings, 77-66 to earn their spot in the West Region championship against conference foe California State University, San Marcos. With a no-doubt final of 73-51, the Toros ultimately came out on top and secured their tickets to St. Joseph, Missouri where they’ll compete in the Elite Eight tournament.
The Toros have certainly etched their name in Dominguez Hills history, keeping their eyes and hearts locked on the ultimate prize: a national championship title. No matter the outcome, the CSUDH community will always love and admire this celebrated team.
