Women's Basketball

February 12-21-2010 is this year's Think Pink Week. Help the Lady Olympians raise awareness and money for this terrible disease. Of the 220,000 women and men diagnosed with breast cancer every year, nearly 40,000 will die. Come join us February 19, for our final game of the season at 7 PM as we honor our lone sophomore, Annessa Jamison. For more information on Think Pink Week, go to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association website at: www.wbca.org.

SAN DIEGO, CA 1/22/10 The Lady Olympians played their best 40 minutes of basketball, getting double figure contributions from four different players (Eley 18, Donald 17, Jamison 13, and Watson 12) in route to a 78-50 PCAC victory over Cuyamaca College. Mesa had it's largest first half output of the season in route to a 46-21 halftime lead. Freshmen Angela Eley (Serra) and Shelby Watson (Mira Mesa) grabbed 10 and 13 rebounds respectively while Watson also had 4 assists and 4 steals. "I thought the team practiced really well the day before and it carried over to the game," said Olympian Head Coach Michael Hootner. "The team continues to improve which is great to see. The biggest key now is consistency," concluded Coach Hootner.

The Men's and Women's Basketball programs will team up on Wednesday during their doubleheader (the Men play at Mesa at 5pm while the Women play at 7pm) to raise money for Haiti. In conjunction with Samaratinsfeet.org and www.redcross.org, you can donate money for this cause.

Men's Head Coach Ed Helscher and Women's Head Coach Michael Hootner will both coach barefoot to raise awareness for this very important cause. Coach Hootner will also coach barefoot on Friday, January 22, during their 7 PM home game versus Cuyamaca.

You can text, "SHOES" to 85944 to donate $5 (through Samaritan's Feet) or text "HAITI" to 90999 to donate $10 (through the American Red Cross).

SAN DIEGO, CA 1/6/10 The Lady Olympians opened Pacific Coast Athletic Conference (PCAC) play with an 78-69 overtime victory over cross-town rival, San Diego City College. City clawed it's way back from a 12-point second half deficit to force the game into overtime only to get outscored 20-11 in the extra session accounting for the final margin. Sophomore Annessa Jamison (Poway, San Diego) led the Lady Olympians with 27 points, including 12 in overtime. Freshman La Queshia Donald (Foothill, Sacramento, CA) added 20 points and 10 rebounds while Freshman Angela Eley (Serra, San Diego) chipped in with 11.

We currently have five(5) full, unedited Lady Olympian games up online from the last three years. There will be more games up here as the season progresses. First, go to: www.viddler.com. Once you arrive at Viddler, you'll see a search box at the top of the page. Type in one of the following:

"JEdwards1" (From 2007-08) or

"AJamison1," (From 2008-09) or

"AJamison2", (From 2008-09) or

"TSpence1", (From 2008-09) or

"AJamison3", (From 2009-10) or

"AEley1", (From 2009-10) or

"SWatson1" (From 2009-10) or

"CCruz1" (From 2009-10).

Each complete (unedited) game has two clips (one for each half). Enjoy!

2009-2010 Media Guide

Click above to view the 2009-2010 Lady Olympian Media Guide. For a hard copy of the full version of the 56-page media guide, please send cash or check for $10 to: Mesa College Women's Basketball, c/o Mike Hootner, Head Coach, 7250 Mesa College Drive, San Diego, CA 92111.

Please note that some games may have been changed since this .pdf was created so check the main schedule first (if you click "schedule" on the left side of the home page you will find the latest updates and starting times). Click the link below to view the schedule.

Click here to view it.

email coachhootner@gmail.com with questions.

1. San Diego Hotels - Hotels

2. San Diego Transit Information - Public Transportation

3. San Diego Restaurants - Where to eat

4. San Diego Tourist Attractions - Family fun!

5. San Diego Media Outlets - News

6. San Diego Visitor Information - Visitor 411

7. Mapquest - Directions

The Fast Break Booster Club started in 2008, helps pay for team meals, new equipment, uniforms, shoes, and travel costs.  Click here to download the entry form. Also, if you click the "Archive" section on the left-hand column you'll find all of the archived Fast Break Newsletters.  If you have any further questions please email Head Coach, Michael Hootner at, coachhootner@gmail.com. Thank you for your support!

For the second consecutive year, the Lady Olympians have joined forces with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, the Kay Yow Foundation, the Jimmy V Foundation and over 1,500 schools and organizations in the fight against breast cancer. In the past two years, this collaborative effort has raised nearly 1.5 million dollars.

Follow Coach Hootner's Tweets at: www.twitter.com/michaelhootner.

Follow the San Diego Women's Basketball Program Tweets at: www.twitter.com/SDMCWBB.

If you want to see all the latest photos (including pictures from the newly renovated gymnasium) and information on the Lady Olympians, request to be our friend from your Facebook page. Once you arrive, in the search box, type in "Sandiegomesacollege Women'sbasketball" and then request to be a friend of the program. Thank you alumnae, friends, and family for all your support! Recruits, we invite you to be a friend of the program also!

Lady Olympian Head Coach Michael Hootner visited the east coast during the Thanksgiving break to watch four former Lady Olympians in action at their new 4-year schools. Hootner first flew into New York City on Tuesday, 11/24, at roughly 12:30 PM. After walking around downtown New York for a couple of hours and visiting the 9/11 site and memorial, Hootner hopped on the #4 subway train to Bedford Park and 45 minutes later was in the Bronx, at Lehman College where he watched Kelsey Ash, Simone Byrd, and Jamie Franklin play host to SUNY New Paltz. "I'm so proud of these young ladies," Said Coach Hootner. "They are using basketball as a way to open doors for themselves. They have all grown so much. I'm very proud of them," concluded Coach Hootner.

After having dinner with the three Alumnae just up the street from Lehman, Hootner went to bed only to get up at 3:45 AM in order to make his 6 AM flight to Raleigh, North Carolina. Upon his arrival at 8:30 AM, Hootner rented a car and proceeded to Chapel Hill and the campus of the University of North Carolina. After visiting the campus for a few hours, Hootner made his way to the UNC basketball museum. "This was an incredible experience," said Coach Hootner. "To see the history of this school from Michael Jordan to Bobby Hurley to Dean Smith to Tyler Hansbrough was amazing," said Coach Hootner.

Coach Hootner then made his way to the Dean Dome which is where he would watch former Lady Olympian, Amanda Mills play the #4 team in the country. Her team lost but Mills finished with 10 points and is really living a dream. "It's been an unbelievable experience playing D1 ball," said Mills. "To have my education paid for and have the chance to travel around the country and play teams like North Carolina, Syracuse, Georgia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, and Alabama just to name a few is a dream come true. I owe it all to Mesa," said Mills. Coach Hootner is very proud of Mills. "We always believed Amanda could play at this level. We are very happy she is living her dream," added Coach Hootner.

After visiting with Mills after the game, Coach Hootner then made his way to Durham, North Carolina, site of Duke University. Although the campus was almost empty due to the break, Hootner hoped he'd have a chance to see Krzyzewskiville, and Cameron Indoor Stadium, where the Duke Blue Devils play their home basketball games. Sure enough, after checking every door in the building, the last one he checked was open. Hootner walked through the entire facility for the next hour and then sat inside this storied stadium by himself for the next 30 minutes. "It was my first time here and I wanted to take it all in," said Hootner. "So, I just sat there and looked at all the banners and the retired numbers in complete silence. There were a few flood lights on so you could see everything including "Coach K Court," and the Duke "D" at centercourt. I hope to one day come back and watch a game here but, if not, this was the next best thing," concluded Coach Hootner.

Hootner then made his way back to San Diego the next morning.

10/16/09 - SAN DIEGO, CA - Over 100 fans came to support the 2009-10 Lady Olympians on Friday night during the 2nd Annual Midnight Madness event. The event went from 11 PM - 12:01 AM. The team was introduced first followed by a three-point contest, won by Angela Eley who connected on 9/15 3's during the finals to win the event. After a dunk contest by the Men's team, the Lady Olympians scrimmaged the men to an 18-18 tie, much to the delight of the crowd.

Midnight Madness was first started as an accident in 1971 by then Maryland Head Coach, Lefty Driesell who had his team gather at 12:01 on the first official day of practice in order to get a head start on the competition. And some 39 years later, the event has become a phenomenom. This midnight practice, which signifies the kickoff to the college basketball season, gives fans their first look at the new team and has been known to attract as many as 25,000 people.

JULY 1, 2009 - SAN DIEGO, CA     Lady Olympian freshman Jamie Franklin (Westchester/Los Angeles, CA) has verbally committed to continue the pursuit of her Bachelor's Degree while playing basketball at Lehman College.  Lehman, located in the Bronx (NY), is an NCAA Division III member institution and a member of the City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC).  Franklin will play alongside of two former Lady Olympians, Kelsey Ash and Simone Byrd for the 2009-10 campaign and have three years of eligibility remaining.

Lady Lightening Head Coach, Eric Harrison is very excited.  "We are thrilled to have Jamie coming here to be a part of our basketball family.  She is an energetic floor leader and will bring depth to the point guard position," concluded Coach Harrison.  For more information on the Lehman College Women's Basketball program, click here. Way to go Jamie!