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Saso and West Adjust to New Roles with Roadrunners

Women's Basketball CSU Bakersfield Athletic Communications

Saso and West Adjust to New Roles with Roadrunners


BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - On a team loaded with returning experience and talent, Roadrunner women's basketball fans will easily recognize two familiar faces. Except for this season, those individuals will be filling a different capacity on the court. Morgan Saso and Nikhol West, seniors on CSUB's 2008–09 squad, return to the Roadrunner program for the 2009–10 season as members of the basketball coaching staff. Saso will be serving as an assistant coach with the team while West has assumed duties as the director of basketball operations.

Saso played just one season with the Roadrunners after transferring from the University of New Mexico in 2007. She practiced with the team during the 2007–08 team and started 23 of the 28 games she appeared in as a senior last year. Her 55.1 field goal percentage ranks as the seventh highest single–season total in CSUB history. The Bakersfield, Calif., native graduated from North High School where she earned McDonald's All–America recognition as a senior.

“I was offered a great opportunity to come back and help out,” said Saso. “There is definitely a big change from being a coach to a player. You understand a little more why the coaches got frustrated at you as a player. Now I can sit back and really understand why they were on me so much.

“One of the biggest benefits for me was the ability to still be around the team. I really enjoy watching the team grow and become stronger. It is also exciting to see the direction of the program growing. We are not there yet, but we have made huge strides in the three years I have been here towards becoming a top program.”

Following a five–year career with the Roadrunners, West returns to the Roadrunner program in 2009–10. As a player, West's 94 career appearances ranks her fifth all time in the CSUB record books. Her 24 blocked shots is tied for the ninth highest career total in program history. West was a standout prep athlete at Bakersfield High School. She garnered All–Area honors from the Bakersfield Californian after averaging 14.3 points, 14.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game.

“As soon as (Head Coach Tim La Kose) asked me to come back, I knew I couldn't say no,” explained West. “I was so happy he wanted me back part of the program that I had to say yes. I still love being around the team I was a part of for the past five years. It's nice not having the stress of being a player. Not worrying about running and playing but just sitting back and helping the players on this team get better. I really like that part of the job.”

While West admits she is still recovering following a medical incident that took place during the spring of 2009 at CSUB's Hillman Aquatics Center, she states that being back in a familiar situation and being around her friends and teammates is definitely helping the process.

“Everyday is just me trying to get back to normal,” said West. “Some things are stressful but stress is going to be there regardless. I always have a good time with this team and having that familiar repetition of events like the start of basketball season helps get me back in the realm of things. I'm just working hard on getting everything back to normal.”

The CSUB women's basketball season begins on Monday, Nov. 9, with an exhibition match against Fresno Pacific at 7 p.m. in the Icardo Center. Montana State visits on Friday, Nov. 13, at 4:30 p.m. in the season opener which will take place at Rabobank Arena. For ticket information, call (661) 654–BLUE!
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