Seattle U. Basketball Preview | Redhawks women both excited, nervous for D-I move

Cassidy Murillo can't lie. She's nervous. And maybe she's a little scared, but she won't say.

These are unsure times for the Seattle University women's basketball team, which returns to Division I competition after a 28-year absence with its regular-season opener tonight at Boise State.

"I get nervous sometimes, but then I think they're basketball players and I'm a basketball player," she said. "I consider myself a Division I athlete just like them. You can't get too scared. Even if you are, you just keep that inside. It's just basketball. We'll be fine."

Tell that to coach Dan Kriley.

When he took over in 2004, the Redhawks hadn't had a winning season in 10 years. It took him a year to resurrect the failing program, and the Redhawks have posted three consecutive winning seasons.

Their winning streak is in serious jeopardy this season as they begin the first year of a five-year reclassification period. Seattle U., which isn't eligible for postseason play until the 2012-13 season, plays 21 of its 29 games against D-I schools or schools in the reclassification period. The difficult schedule gets worse when you consider the Redhawks have just 10 home games at the Connolly Center.

"I'm very excited," Kriley said. "The nervous piece, no. This is one of those years where we're not playing for an NCAA championship. What we're playing for is to get the program to a point where we can compete. So that gives me an opportunity to try some things that I've been stubborn with in the past."

The conditions are perfect for an extreme makeover. Seattle U. brought in 10 new players and returns six, including two of last season's top three scorers, senior forward Chelsie Morrison and Murillo, a junior guard attempting to come back from knee surgery.

The Redhawks are also relying on a host of newcomers, including guards Elle Kerfoot and Bianca Williams, forwards Mercedes Alexander and Maggie McCarthy, and center Carley Butcher. Sophomore forward Breanna Salley, a transfer from Minnesota, would likely start if the NCAA rules her eligible to play.

"Being a freshman, I've got some jitters," said Kerfoot, who declined scholarships to Santa Clara and San Diego. "These are some big games and obviously the best competition I've ever faced. But I see it as we've got nothing to lose right now."

In addition to games against Portland, Portland State, UC Davis and San Jose State, Seattle U. received an invitation to play in the Husky Classic and faces Washington on Nov. 28 at Edmundson Pavilion. The teams last played in 1985.

"When I talked to [UW] coach [Tia] Jackson, she was like, "Let's try to get something going here if it makes sense to create a little rivalry,' " Kriley said. "Coming from her perspective, she's thinking we got a new program here in SU, it's across town, this should be easy on travel and we get to keep our kids sleeping in their own beds.

"But for me, I'm saying, 'Hey, let's go make our mark.' This is a huge opportunity to do something big."

Percy Allen: 206-464-2278 or pallen@seattletimes.com