Women's Basketball February 26, 2009 CSU Bakersfield Athletic Communications

Roadrunner Feature: Krista Arase

The sports information staff sat down with CSUB women's basketball senior guard, No. 25, Krista Arase and asked the Monterey Park, Calif., native 25 questions. The point guard tells us about some of her favorite times on an off the court as a member of the Roadrunners. She also shares the inspiration for some of her amazing passes and what goes through her mind as the floor general.

Arase is the program's all-time leader in eight statistical categories including steals, assists, three-point field goal shooting and free throw percentage. Over her three-plus year tenure with the ?Runners, she has played, and started, in 113 contests, missing only one game.

During your four seasons in a Roadrunner jersey, what has been the one moment that stands out for you?

There are a lot of moments that stand out over these past four seasons, but the one that stands out the most is when we beat UC Santa Barbara at the Thunderdome my freshman year. It was our first game of the season and my first college game so I was really anxious. UCSB has always been a very successful basketball program and we were still a Division II program. All of us were pretty nervous, but we came out strong and won that game by one point. It was a great win for our program and it helped me realize how high of a level we were capable of playing at.

Coming into this season, what aspect of your game were you most focused on improving? How would you grade your progress at this point in the season?

The one aspect of my game that my coaches and I were focusing on improving this year was looking for my shot more often. I've always had a pass first mentality, which is why teams tend to play me for the pass. My coaches have been stressing for me to recognize that I'm open to shoot and not just pass every time. I would say that I have made a lot of progress so far. My PPG and shots taken have increased a lot since my first few years and I feel like I am getting more of a shooter's mentality.

You look so unbelievably calm when you bring the ball up the court against a press. What goes through your head when a defender is right on your hip the entire length of the floor? Are you as calm as you demeanor says you are or is something else going on?

Most of the time when I bring the ball up the court against a press, I am as calm as I seem. I just tell myself to relax and take care of the ball. It's easy to be calm because I know that my teammates have my back if I need help.

In high school, you were one of the top point guard prospects in the Los Angeles area. What other schools were you considering besides CSUB?

Honestly, I wasn't being recruited by any other Division I programs. I had a few walk-on offers, but Coach LaKose was the only one who really had faith in my abilities, which is one of the main reasons why I chose to come here.

In the college game you've established yourself as one of the best point guards in the country, finding open teammates and creating offense. Was that your role in high school at Keppel as well or has your role/outlook changed?

High school basketball was a completely different game for me. I was one of the tallest players on the team so my role wasn't just to be the point guard like it is here. In high school I had to grab more rebounds, guard bigger players and even do the tip at the beginning of games. I still played the point, but I had to be more of a scoring point guard because my team relied on me more heavily. After playing at Keppel with a team full of tiny guards, it makes me appreciate having bigger teammates here at CSUB.

You make some pretty amazing passes to teammates. The no-look, the behind-the-back. Do you sit at home and think about different ways to pass a basketball and practice doing it?

My love for passing started when I was a kid. I used to buy all of the streetball videos and And1 mixtapes and just watch them over and over again. A lot of people don't appreciate street basketball because they see it as show boating, but I love watching the creative moves and passes that these kids come up with. I also love to watch Steve Nash and old tapes of “Pistol Pete” Maravich.

During pregame warmup, you are usually the first one out there and we see you taking (and hitting) some pretty crazy shots. On your team, besides you, who would win in a game of HORSE?

Christine (Kepenekian) is definitely the biggest competition when it comes to HORSE. We always challenge Coach (Greg) McCall to games of HORSE because he always brags about his shooting days in college. But he's always the first one out.

What is your finishing shot in a game of HORSE? Have you actually won a game with that shot?

I love to make up crazy shots, especially for HORSE. My finishing shot would be a half court shot on my knees. I can't remember if I've ever won with that shot, but I try it at least once every game.

You seem to have no hesitation to fire from long range anywhere on the floor. Now with the men's extended three-point line, do you find yourself looking for that line or do you just shoot when you are open?

When I found out that the men's line was moved back, I was actually upset that they didn't move the women's line back as well. I feel like it's an insult to women's basketball and I'm still a little bitter about it, but I don't really pay attention to the lines. I just shoot when I have some open space.

If given the choice, would you rather run wind sprints for an entire two hour practice or do five television and radio interviews?

I wouldn't even think twice about passing up a day of conditioning over television and radio interviews. In fact, I get a nice run every time a camera man walks into the gym because I sprint out the back door.

No question, playing Division I college basketball takes a great deal of athleticism. If you were to play another sport at CSUB, which one do you think you would be best at? And the sport that you think would give you the most trouble?

I've only played basketball my entire life so I probably wouldn't be very good at any other sports. The one sport that would give me a lot of trouble would probably be soccer. Basketball is pretty much the opposite of soccer since you use your feet instead of hands. I'd have the urge to grab the ball and chuck it across the field too much. I also have a lot of friends on the soccer team so I hear about their intense workouts all the time. It makes me realize that our conditioning workouts are not as bad as they could be.

So lets say CSUB was allowed to add to one sport and that outgoing seniors were able to save an extra year of eligibility if they participated on this new team. What NEW sport would you add to take advantage of this eligibility?

The one sport that I would love to add to our school is women's football like powderpuff in high school. I know all of my teammates would agree with me on that and definitely join with me.

With all the attention on last year's election, who on the team would make the best candidate to run for government?

Kelley Tarver would make the best candidate to run for government because she has a very strong personality, she's one of the smartest on the team and she works hard in everything she does.

Your classmate, Christine Kepenekian, is one of the toughest players on the West Coast, and has the battle scars to prove it. How would you describe her game?

Christine is simply a beast. There aren't many 5'6” (roster height) guards averaging nine rebounds a game and racking up double-doubles almost every night. She always plays like the biggest player on the floor and I don't know anyone who loves the game more than Chris. There's no doubt in my mind that she's going to play until she's 100 years old in a wheelchair and she'll still be putting up double-doubles.

How do you think your teammates describe your game?

At the beginning of the year, our coaches had us do an exercise where we wrote down put-ups or compliments about each teammate. The one thing that most of my teammates expressed about my game is that they see me as a quiet leader who leads by example.

Even though the transition has meant seeing new Division I opponents, what is the one CCAA team you would really like to have one more shot at beating? Here or at their place?

Without a doubt, the one CCAA team that I would really love to have one more shot at beating is Chico State. I still have a bitter taste in my mouth about how they beat us in the regional playoffs during our last Division II season. That year, in our first game against Chico, we beat them by almost 30 points so we knew we were the better team. After they beat us in regionals, they ended up going all the way to the final four. Ironically, two transfers from that same Chico team play for UoP, who we happen to play on our senior night coming up in March. The seniors and I have been looking forward to that game since the day we saw it on the schedule. Going out as seniors with a revenge win would be perfect.

Of all the coaches you have had at CSUB, either La Kose or one of the assistants during the years, which one would you most like to beat playing one v. one?

I would most like to beat Coach Kristen (Dowling) in a one v. one game.

On an off day during the season, what activity are we most likely to find you doing?

I make sure to take advantage of my days off. Our long weeks of games and practices take a toll on my body so I lay in bed all day watching basketball games and I never take a step out of my apartment.

Do you have any outside hobbies or interests that extend beyond the basketball court?

I don't usually get a lot of free time, but when I do, I usually stay in my apartment to play with my crazy cat, Nash. I'm a sports junky so some of my teammates and I try to make it out to other sporting events on campus. I also love to hang out with friends and watch college basketball games or movies with them. Whenever I have the chance, I make the drive home to spend time with my family.

The team has taken some pretty long bus trips for away games during your four years. What is the best movie to watch to pass the time on the bus?

We used to watch a lot of Family Guy to loosen us up a bit, but now we just listen to our iPods and sleep to pass time on our long road trips.

As a senior, what game from this year will you look back on as your favorite?

My favorite game from this season would have to be the UC Santa Barbara game. That was one of the most exciting games because we beat a great team in front of a packed house. It was a huge step for our program and school, especially since we are trying to get into the Big West Conference. Beating the top team who, at the time, was undefeated in that conference proves that we can play and compete at that level. We also got to prove how good we are to a lot of people who normally wouldn't be at our games. I know we gained some new fans and more respect with that win.

Arase hit the game-winning layup as time expired to give CSUB a 69?67 victory over the Gauchos on January 31, 2009.

Before the season you expressed interest in continuing your basketball career after college. Have there been any new developments on that end yet?

I would love to continue my basketball career after college, but I try not to think about it too much. My main focus right now is to finish the season successfully then worry about furthering my career after.

You're going to leave CSUB with numerous school records. If someone were to look back at your career, what would you want people to know about your game?

I want people to look back at my career and say that I was a true point guard who took care of the ball and most importantly, made her teammates better.

Besides gameday, what will be the one thing you will miss most about CSUB women's basketball?

My teammates will truly be missed. I always tell people that MTV should make a Real World series with our team because we're so crazy. There is never a dull moment with them and they never fail to make me laugh. I love all of them for who they are on and off the court. We're a family and they're always there for me when I need them.

If you come back for an alumni game or gathering in 10 years, what do you think you will be doing? Where?

In 10 years I will hopefully have figured out what profession I would like to do and have a family full of future basketball players. As much as I love living in Bakersfield, I highly doubt that I'll still be up here. I see myself living down south so I can be closer to my family.

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Players Mentioned

#25 Krista Arase: G; 5' 6"; Senior

#23 Christine Kepenekian: G; 5' 7"; Senior

#13 Kelley Tarver: G; 5' 8"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#25 Krista Arase
: 5' 6"; Senior
: G

#23 Christine Kepenekian
: 5' 7"; Senior
: G

#13 Kelley Tarver
: 5' 8"; Senior
: G

California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

Next Event

Roadrunner Feature: Krista Arase

Players Mentioned

#25 Krista Arase

#23 Christine Kepenekian

#13 Kelley Tarver

Players Mentioned

#25 Krista Arase

#23 Christine Kepenekian

#13 Kelley Tarver