Players learning a new coach, inconsistent team play and an unfavorable schedule translated into a tough season for the SF State women’s basketball team. The Lady Gators finished the season 7-20 overall and 6-14 in the CCAA.

After winning the season opener at home against Notre Dame De Namur, 71-56, the Lady Gators hit a brick wall and lost nine consecutive games in a row. Six out of those nine losses were on the road.

"I don’t think we ever fully recovered from the losing streak," said junior guard/forward Mindi Martinez. "After about the third or fourth loss, we kind of lost hope."

According to head coach Cristo Ortega, some of the struggles early in the season came from not being able to foster a strong relationship with his players.

"It was hard because we really didn’t know each other," Ortega said. "I inherited a team from a previous regime that I didn’t recruit."

Ortega said that his relationships with players are formed during the recruiting process. During the previous six years, Ortega served as an assistant coach for the SF State men’s basketball team under coach Charlie Thomas.

"I make no secrets during this process from what I want personally and my expectations as a coach," Ortega said. "With this team, I didn’t have the opportunity to do that."

Some players blame Ortega for the losing season.

"The turnout of the season came from having a rookie coach with no experience working with females," said senior center Bianca Rayford.

Rayford was an integral part of the team this season, averaging 15.4 points and nine rebounds per game and accumulating 16 blocked shots. She led the team in all three categories.

Martinez said it was hard to find that balance between what Ortega wanted them to do and what they needed to get them going.

"We had some difficulty with coach Ortega because at times, he found himself trying to coach us like men," Martinez said. "We don’t mind being treated like men, but girls are more emotional, so I think he had to mellow down raising his voice."

Throughout the season, Ortega would be constantly re-evaluating his coaching style.

"There were so many different personalities that I was still learning," Ortega said. "Some players you could really get into and some you couldn’t get after."

The Lady Gators were not able to "click" and find enough consistency for most of the season, recording back-to-back wins only twice. When senior guard DeAnna Butler was sidelined for a month with a sprained ankle in early December, they lost one of their leaders and the heart of the team.

"Butler was very vocal in not letting any of her teammates get down," Ortega said. "When she got hurt, it was tough to lose that senior leadership."

Butler was the only starter to return this season from a Gator team that had a winning record the year before.

"I don’t know, as a coach, if it was me, but as a team, we didn’t play well," Ortega said. "Overall, we just weren’t that good."

The Lady Gators ranked in the bottom four in the conference in offense, defense, field goal percentage and turnover margin. They were ranked ninth in offense, averaging 61.4 points per game, but gave up an average of 70.6 points per game, which ranked seventh.

The Lady Gators were also ranked ninth in field goal percentage, shooting under 40 percent. Turnovers were also an issue, with the squad giving up 22.3 per game, while their opponents averaged 19.2 per game.

Throughout the struggles, players said, the Lady Gators were able to find each other and develop good relationships.

"In the beginning of the season, we didn’t really get along as a team," Rayford said. "But as the season went along, we learned to trust each other."

That trust was evident in the Lady Gators’ Feb. 12 win over CSU Monterey Bay, 100-67.

"I’ll always remember that win because the players were there for each other, and we played as a team," Ortega said.

"After that win, we started to get everyone going," Martinez said. "We were finding more confidence, and I think it was a good momentum builder towards next season."