SOUTHFIELD, Mich. - The Lawrence Technological (Mich.) University women's basketball team is primed to open the season north of the border against Algoma (Ont.) University on Saturday, October 29 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
"I am excited that we are ranked fourth by the coaches in the pre-season WHAC poll," LTU Head Coach Kylene Spiegel said. "Expectations are high after finishing 24-5 overall last year. We have 12 talented players that will all need to contribute in order for us to be successful."
The Blue Devils return two WHAC All-Conference selections in Christina Henry (SR/Lansing, Mich.) and Allison Kitchen (SR/Clio, MI) from a year ago. Maegan Branham returns as well and adds depth to an already strong upperclass. The WHAC All-Academic honoree, Branham averaged 4.2 PPG and 4.6 RPG. Junior Hayley Walkowski (JR/Marshall, MI) returns while Cherilyn Banas (SO/Oxford, Mich.) and Nicole Buckingham (SO/Saginaw, Mich.) are back as sophomores.Also returning is former Blue Devil Anne Tucker (SR/Rochester Hills, Mich.) and she joins four freshman - Kaitlyn Smith (FR/Holly, Mich.), Danielle Hanson (FR/East Lansing, Mich.), Hope Dollarhide (FR/Dorr, Mich.), and Alexis Ayala (FR/Durand, Mich.) - as newcomers on the 2016-17 team.
Henry leads all returners with 11.3 points per game last season while Kitchen averaged 10.5 ppg. Buckingham added 7.8 ppg while Banas added 73 assists. Walkowski averaged 5.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg, and added 28 assists.
"Our top returners are seniors, Allison Kitchen who finished First Team All-WHAC and was named Daktronics Scholar Athlete," Speigel said. "Allison averaged 10 points and five rebounds. Christina Henry was named to First Team All-WHAC and averaged 11 points and six rebounds. Also, Nicole Buckingham who was named to the WHAC All-Freshman Team, averaging eight points and 3.5 rebounds per game. We have four freshman this year and they all continue to work hard every day, most importantly they are focused on getting better."
Lawrence Tech opens the season with three road games including an exhibition game at Eastern Michigan University on November 7. They open the season in Canada and the Upper Peninsula on October 29 and October 30. Lawrence Tech opens WHAC play on November 16 against University of Northwestern Ohio.
"Our non-conference schedule is extremely tough and beefed up," Spiegel said. "In our first five games we play at NCAA Division II, Division I and two ranked NAIA teams. It is important to me that if we want to compete for a conference championship we need to play the best of the best."
The 2016-17 team also has a change at the top, as Spiegel was named the programs second head coach in June of 2016. Spiegel comes to LTU from Kent State (Ohio) University where she was an assistant coach for the Flash.
With a new coach, comes new philosophies and the team is learning that as practices started to hit full throttle over the last month.
"The learning process is coming along slowly but surely," Spiegel said. "I'm very lucky to inherit 12 players who are all bought in and ready to learn. We focus every day in practice on getting better on both ends of the court. Great pressure defense creates offense. We will be a pressure defensive team that hustles for 40 minutes. On offense we stress taking care of the basketball and finishing lay-ups."
"Our strengths are giving 100% effort every time we walked into the gym. We pride ourselves on rebounding, loose balls and out hustling others. Our weaknesses are paying attention to details consistently and staying disciplined on both ends of the floor."
"I am really excited for our season opening weekend on October 29th and 30th," Spiegel said. "We travel to the UP and play two talented teams, Algoma College (Can.) and Lake Superior State University (NCAA DII). Our team quote this year is "Today I will do what other's won't, so tomorrow I can do what others can't. We practice at 6:00 AM twice a week and do not allow one another to have excuses for anything. I am a firm believer that there only bad moments, not bad days."
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