Throughout her career on the CSU Bakersfield women’s basketball team, Tyonna Outland has broken record and accomplished a lot of her goals but on April 16, she achieved her biggest goal.
Outland, who grew up in Compton, signed with the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women’s National Basketball Association. She became the first CSUB women’s basketball player to be signed to a WNBA team.
“I was just really excited and didn’t really know what reaction to do because there was a lot through my mind,” Outland said. “My dream was actually coming through. It just makes me believe that faith and hard work works.
“A lot of people didn’t think I would be able to do it because the situation of the small school and everything. It just proves to me that I can keep proving people wrong if I keep working hard.”
In her final year at CSUB, Outland averaged 19.7 points per game, 5.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. She ended as the school’s all-time scorer with 2,078 points.
Outland is also the school’s leader in field goals made (722), field goals attempted (1743), free throws made (528), free throws attempted (709) and games played (132).
“It was weight-lifting, happiness, joyfulness and a lot of praying to God for the opportunity that she has gotten,” CSUB women’s basketball coach Greg McCall said. “It’s such a huge blessing because this young lady has faced a lot of adversity in her life, and for her to fight through every bit of it to have the opportunity to become a professional player is huge for her and for our program.
“She’s the best player that has come through this university. There have been some good ones that come through here, but she has been the best hands down.”
The WNBA season starts in June, and Outland is expected to report to the Sparks’ training camp in early May.
–Esteban Ramirez
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In conjunction with a California State System resolution, CSU Bakersfield’s library has discontinued purchasing online journal access from publisher John Wiley and Sons.
The resolution, which was passed by the CSU Academic Senate in March 2015, opposes the publisher’s bundling of unwanted or extra content with coveted research, a practice that raises the cost of purchasing research.
Curt Asher, interim dean of the Walter Stiern Library, said that the impact of the CSU resolution would be negligible for students.
“We have purchased alternative subscriptions to the Wiley journals and have subscribed to some individual Wiley titles that are needed by our students,” Asher wrote in an email.
“The library’s view is that the non-renewal of this subscription will have minimal impact at CSUB.”
Asher said that, although CSUB paid $385,000 last year to provide research access, Wiley’s pursuit of higher costs exceeded what the CSU system was willing to offer.
Asher added that he was thankful that the CSU Academic Senate approved the measure.
“Every CSU student … should be able to use their library to find a rich array of resources on the subjects their campus teaches. The Senate clearly stands with the library on equity.”
–Steven Barker