LANCASTER, Calif. – It was a great night to be an Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Ariz.) women's basketball fan as Danae Ruiz (JR/Maricopa, Ariz.) and head coach Michael Trujillo were named the 2018-2019 California Pacific Conference Player and Coach of the Year. Not to mention Jazlyn Maletino (JR/Stockton, Calif.) was named to the All-Cal Pac first team and Haley Villegas (JR/Anthem, Ariz.) and Jenna Knudson (JR/Sterling, Colo.) both appeared as honorable mentions.
For a primary bench player to win the conference player of the year honors must mean that this Eagle can ball and she can. Ruiz only started a handful of games for ERAU this season but has been prolific off of the bench, leading the team in points per game and is towards the top of every major statistical category for the team. She seems to shine in the biggest moments and subtly scored 33 points against University of Antelope Valley on the road this season. This is Ruiz's third straight appearance on the first team and her first player of the year nod during her tenure at ERAU
It was a switch of emphasis for Maletino who changed roles with Ruiz this season and saw a terrific output. Maletino is second on the team in scoring and has played big minutes against some of the best teams that the conference has to offer. Her 22-point game against UAV at home, helped secure the Eagles the top spot in the conference championships. For the Californian, this is the first time that she has made the first team and was a second teamer in the 2017-2018 season.
For our honorable mentions they have been working hard all season and were awarded by the coaches of the conference. Knudson was an All-Cal Pac honorable mention her freshman season and has been solid both offensively and defensively for the Eagles, averaging 10.0 points and averages 2.4 steals. This is Villegas first chance to see herself as an All-Cal Pac teamer and is the Eagles third highest scorer. Just above 10 points a game, Villegas has really been the floor general for Riddle and leads the team in assists as well.
In his first year with the program, Trujillo has only built upon what his team was already good at. As a prolific offense that the Eagles have, it has been their transformation on the defensive end that has pushed them over the edge. Their rebounding has jumped from the 46th best all the way to third best in the NAIA, this has a lot to do with the shots they force and are now fourth in the NAIA in opponent field goal percentage. There is no denying that the team was talented but the defensive prowess this season gives them a chance in every game.
ERAU takes on the No. 4 seeded Simpson University at 7:30 pm MST in Lancaster in the conference semi-finals on Saturday (2/23) which is free to watch and hear via the Cal Pac website and zcalsports.com.
