Seanette Garcia

Previously named Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference player of the week and most valuable player, sophomore Trenecca Jones takes on a new name, SCIAC Player of the Year. Jones is a forward for the woman’s basketball team. Formerly a Chaffey High School basketball and track and field star, Jones’ overall statistics for the 2007 season included averages of 17.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, and a field goal percentage of .524 per game.

Dustin Smith
Staff Writer

This year, no other player has shined more than the La Verne women’s basketball team power forward Trenecca Jones.

On March 6 the sophomore native from Ontario was named the 2007 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference player of the year.

She proudly brings ULV the award that the Leopards have won only twice before in their history.

Jones has always strived to be a better player but also focuses hard on her studies and her day-to-day life as an inspiration to be better all around.

Jones, an 18-year-old chemistry major, also holds three jobs and spends much of her time on her studies, while also giving 100 percent to her team.

Even after shining throughout the whole season and being undoubtedly one of the toughest players to face in SCIAC, Jones was actually surprised to receive the award.

“It felt good being recognized,” Jones said.

After having been awarded, she said she still works hard at her game and strives to be a better player.

Jones is humble when it comes to her accomplishments and mentioned that since her earning her award, her game has also “significantly” improved.

“I’m playing at a more mature collegiate level,” Jones said.

It was Jones’ stats that were able to put her over the top as lead candidate for the prestigious conference award.

Jones finished the season with averages of 16.6 points, 11 rebounds, and more than 34 minutes a game for the Leopards.

Those numbers led Jones to rank No. 1 in scoring, No. 2 in rebounds, and No. 5 in minutes played in SCIAC.

“(She is) an all-around player on both ends of the floor,” said head women’s basketball coach Julie Kline.

Kline also said that Jones has become more of a complete player in her time at ULV, most noticeably in her offensive game as she has become better especially from the perimeter.

Kline also depended on Jones to score in bunches as she was most often the team’s high scorer and guarded the opponent’s best players.

“She works extremely hard,” Kline said, “for her team and program.”

Kline looks forward to her future performance, and expects her experiences will prove beneficial.

Jones’ performance this past season has Leopard fans and others awaiting more good things from her in the future.

“She is becoming the complete player,” said Stefanie Foster a first-year graduate assistant with the team.

“She is a good person to play with,” Foster, who had the opportunity to play alongside Jones last year, said.

Many students and followers shared the sentiment as Jones was one of the catalyst to the Leopards success in winning the conference title and earning a bid to the NCAA tournament this season.

“She deserved it,” said Taryll Sumler, a junior criminology major. “She is a great athlete, great student, great all around person.”

Sumler also mentioned what many already believe which is that Jones is a better athlete and should be playing in a higher division school.

He also acknowledged her’ humble attitude toward her performance and her recognition.

Throughout the span of the season, Jones received the SCIAC Female Athlete of the Week award three times.

Despite all her accomplishments and accolades, Jones will be back for her junior year and ready to give it her all once again when basketball season begins in late October.

Dustin Smith can be reached at dsmith9@ulv.edu.