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The Lady Lakers basketball used a strong 23-7 third quarter run to beat the Hocking College Hawks 82-61 last night at Lakeland. The two teams battled back and fourth throughout the first quarter and finished it with the Lakers ahead 16-14. At the half, the Lakers had moved to a 39-27 lead before the decisive third quarter. The Lady Lakers out rebounded the Hawks from start to finish and finished the game with a 68-54 edge. Patricia Cistrunk recorded 12 rebounds while Alicia Ward had 10 rebounds and 8 points. Freshman Alicia Sephus finished the evening leading the way with 18 boards and contributing 17 points.
In the first half, the Hawks kept in the game by hitting several threes. Throughout the half, Brianna Prugel (11 points) and Makea Scott continued to answer the bell. In the end Scott finished the night with 29 points on a 10-17 effort from the field while also shooting 5-7 from the line. with the win, the Lakers improve to 3-4 on the year while the Hawks drop to 2-7.
The Lakers are back in action this Saturday as they travel to Piqua, Ohio to play the Edison Community College Chargers. They will then make the trek to Batavia, New York to play Genesee Community College Sunday. Game times for both games is 1 p.m. The team will then be off for the holidays and return to action Jan. 11 when they will travel to Columbus State to play the Cougars at 5:30 p.m.
The Laker's Women's Basketball team lost to Sinclair Community College 77-55 on Saturday. With the loss, the Lakers dropped to 10-11 overall and 3-4 in the OCCAC. Sinclair outscored the Lakers 53-30 in the first three quarters and cruised to the win. Lakeland's Jaelah Dye scored 21 points and had 10 rebounds while Bri Williams and Aloneet Durden pitched in with 15 points and 10 points respectively.
The Lakers travel to Columbus State on Wednesday for a 5:30pm tip against the Cougars before playing host to Edison State Community College on Saturday (2/5) at 1:00pm.
The Laker's Womens Basketball team split this past week as they defeated Lorain County 82-70 on Wednesday before losing to Cincinnati State on Saturday, 87-59. After this week, the Lakers stand at 10-9 overall and 3-2 in league play. Against Lorain, the Lady Lakers had three players achieve double doubles – Jaelah Dye (29 pts, 19 reb), Jumiya Graves (17 pts, 10 reb), and Aloneet Durden (13 pts, 10 reb). Alex Owensby also chipped in with 12 points for the Lakers.
At Cincinnati, the Lakers jumped out to a 17-13 lead at the end of the first quarter before running out of steam and getting outscored 74-42. In particular, the Lakers struggled in the second and fourth quarters. Jaelah Dye (16 pts), Alex Owensby (13 pts), and Jumiya Graves (10 pts) led the way for the Lakers.
The Lady Lakers game this Wednesday was postponed until 2/24 due to inclement weather. They are back in action this Saturday as they play host to Cuyahoga CC at 1:00pm.
The Laker's Womens Basketball team started the new year off with a difficult 91-62 loss to Columbus State. The Lakers had difficulty handling the size of the Chargers all evening and now stand at 9-7 overall and 2-1 in the OCCAC. Lakeland was out-rebounded 76-42 on the evening. Aloneet Durden led the way for the Lakers with 22 points, while Brianna Williams added 15 points and Jaelah Dye added 10 points and 7 rebounds.
Game Time Change: On Saturday, January 9, 2016, the women's basketball team will host Clark State at 3:00 p.m.
The Laker's Womens Basketball team finished the Fall semester with a hard fought 68-62 victory over the Edison chargers in Piqua, Ohio. With the win the Lady Lakers are now 2-0 in the OCCAC and 9-6 overall. Bri Williams (17 points and 5 rebounds), Natalie Hill (15 points and 8 rebounds), and Aloneet Durden (14 points and 10 rebounds) led the way for the Lakers. Durden also chipped in 10 assists along the way to help in the victory. The Lakers are now on break for the holiday. The next games (women and men) are at home on Wednesday, 1/6/16 against Columbus State and on Saturday, 1/9/16 against Clark State. Game times for all weekday games are at 5:30 and 7:30 and all Saturday games are at 1 and 3pm.
The Laker's Womens Basketball team completed their non-league schedule with a 6-6 record. On Saturday, they traveled to Sinclair CC and defeated the Tartans 56-54 to up their record to 7-6 and 1-0 in the OCCAC. Tomariah Whitner led the way with 10 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 assists. Aloneet Durdeen and Jaleah Dye each added 10 points and Dye also contributed 6 rebounds. Jumiya Graves also chipped in with 6 points and 6 rebounds. Coach Blazetic was pleased with the overall effort as she states, "The team really took a step forward and it was a good overall win". The team is back in action Wednesday, 12/16, against Genesee CC in non-conference play. The tip-off is scheduled for 5:30.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 24, 2015) – Sophomore Mercedes Hobbs (Twinsburg, Ohio / Twinsburg) of the Lakeland Community College women's basketball team has been recognized for academic achievement by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). Hobbs earned the NJCAA Pinnacle Award for Academic Excellence, the highest academic honor bestowed upon a student-athlete, for maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA.
Of the 58,531 student-athletes who competed on 3,461 teams at NJCAA member institutions across the nation this year, only 185 earned the Pinnacle Award for Academic Excellence. She is the lone representative from the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC).
Hobbs was an honorable mention all-conference selection as a sophomore forward with the Lakers. She averaged 9.2 points and a team-high 7.5 rebounds while also earning a plethora of academic awards. Hobbs was a two-time S.T.A.R. student-athlete and Dean's List selection and garnered OCCAC All-Academic Team honors as year's end.
About the award:
Each year the NJCAA recognizes academic achievement by publishing the Academic Student-Athlete Awards. Formerly known as the Academic All-American program, the NJCAA recognizes student-athletes who meet one of the following qualifications:
- NJCAA Pinnacle Award for Academic Excellence: 4.00 GPA
- NJCAA Award for Superior Academic Achievement: 3.80 – 3.99 GPA
- NJCAA Award for Exemplary Academic Achievement: 3.60 – 3.79 GPA
In order to be eligible for an award, a student-athlete must have completed at least 60 quarter hours or 45 semester hours of college-level work.
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KIRTLAND, Ohio (May 13, 2015) – Head women's basketball coach Amanda Blazetic announced the signing of four new additions to the women's basketball program yesterday afternoon when Patricia Cistrunk, Aloneet Durden, Makia Thurman, and Brianna Williams signed a National Letter of Intent to join the Lakers for the 2015-16 season.
Patricia Cistrunk
Patricia Cistrunk competed in basketball, cross country, and track at John F. Kennedy High School. She was a Senate League all-star in basketball (2011, 2012) and was named MVP of the cross country (2011-12) and track teams (2011-12).
As a freshman at Mercyhurst North East, Cistrunk played in 22 games while earning 18 starts. She averaged 5.5 points and a team-best 10.8 rebounds for the Saints. Cistrunk scored a career-high 24 points on 11-of-13 shooting against Pittsburgh-Titusville on November 1 and scored in double figures four times. She pulled down double-digit rebounds in 16 games including a career-high 22 against Butler County on December 18. She ended the season ranked 26th in the nation (NJCAA Division II) in rebounding average.
The daughter of Jacqueline Cistrunk, she plans to major in management at Lakeland.
Aloneet Durden
Aloneet Durden is an honor roll student and four-time district champion at Twinsburg High School. She helped the Tigers claim a Division I state championship in 2011 and finish as runner-up in 2012. The daughter of George and Reeda Durden, she plans to pursue an Associate of Science degree at Lakeland.
Makia Thurman
Makia Thurman is a merit roll student at nearby Euclid High School. She helped the Panthers capture a Lake Erie League (LEL) Championship in 2013 while earning the Sportsmanship and Captain's Award. The daughter of Mandale Thurman Sr. and Mikita Randall, she is undecided on her major at Lakeland.
Brianna Williams
Brianna Williams helped Twinsburg High School win a pair of district championships and finish as the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Division I runner-up in 2012. The daughter of Chuck and Sabrina Williams, she plans to major in nursing at Lakeland.
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KIRTLAND, Ohio (March 5, 2015) – Three members of the Lakeland Community College women's basketball team were named to the all-conference team as voted on by league coaches Thursday afternoon. A trio of sophomores earned All-Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) honors after guiding Lakeland to a 14-15 regular season including a 7-7 mark in league play.
Sophomore guard Nicole Upshaw (Cleveland, Ohio / Shaw) was named to the First Team while classmates Mercedes Hobbs (Cleveland, Ohio / Twinsburg) and Molly Walsh (Newbury, Ohio / Newbury) garnered Honorable Mention accolades. It was the first time the Lakers have posted three all-conference selections since 2011.
Upshaw led the team in a number of categories including points per game (13.4), assists per game (3.6), and steals per game (2.4). She also averaged 4.8 rebounds per game to finish tied for third on the team. She set career-highs with 28 points and 11 rebounds in a victory over Edison on February 7 and scored in double figures in eight league contests. Upshaw is the first Laker to earn First Team honors since Alyson Lee in 2011.
Hobbs averaged 9.2 points and a team-best 7.5 rebounds per game in her only season with the Lakers. The sophomore transfer scored in double figures in eight league games before scoring a career-high 26 points in the District I quarterfinal game at Sinclair on March 3.
Walsh was one of only two Lakers – along with Upshaw – to play and start in all 14 league contests. She finished second on the team in scoring (10.4 ppg) and reached double figures in nine games. Walsh also averaged 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.6 steals per game and led the team in minutes played (32.9).
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DAYTON, Ohio (March 3, 2015) – Sophomore forward Mercedes Hobbs (Cleveland, Ohio / Twinsburg) posted a career-high 26 points and added a team-high 12 rebounds in a 74-67 loss to No. 4-seed Sinclair on Tuesday night in the District I quarterfinals. The No. 5-seed Lakers, returning to the postseason for the first time since 2010, also got 12 points from Tyra Turk (South Euclid, Ohio / Brush) and 10 from Molly Walsh (Newbury, Ohio / Newbury) in the setback. Sinclair will advance to Friday's semifinal where it will take on top-seeded Owens for a chance to play in Saturday's championship game.
The Tartan Pride took a 31-23 lead into the locker room and stretched the advantage to 17 midway through the second half before the Lakers began to chip away at the deficit. Lakeland held a resounding 50-28 advantage on the glass but was stymied by Sinclair's 11 3-pointers. The Lakers also lost the turnover battle 24-6.
The Lakers finish the season with a 14-16 overall record, an 11-win improvement from last year.
Head Coach Amanda Blazetic acknowledged the progress her program made in her second year at the helm. "Although the loss was disappointing, we have a lot to be proud of and the overall success of this program is going to continue to grow. The general foundation has been established and we are looking forward to building on the strides we made this season."
Link >> Box Score
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (March 2, 2015) – The NJCAA Region XII, District I bracket has been set after the conclusion of the regular season over the weekend. The Lakeland women's basketball team returns to postseason play for the first time since 2010 when it travels to Dayton on Tuesday (March 3) night for a quarterfinal matchup with the No. 4-seed Sinclair.
The Lakers and Tartan Pride split the regular season series with each team winning on its respective home court. Peyton Neumore (Burton, Ohio / Berkshire) led three players in double figures with 14 points in a 67-61 victory on January 17 inside the Athletic & Fitness Center. In the rematch on February 14, Lakeland erased a 20-point first half deficit and forced overtime before ultimately falling 76-75.
Top overall seed Owens Community College (29-1, 14-0 OCCAC) awaits the winner in the first semifinal game Friday afternoon at 1 p.m. on the campus of Ohio Christian University.
In the only other quarterfinal matchup, No. 3-seed Cincinnati State will host No. 6-seed Cuyahoga on Tuesday night before the winner takes on No. 2-seed Columbus State on Friday at 3 p.m.
Links >> OCCAC Release | Map & Directions | Complete Bracket
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KIRTLAND, Ohio (February 28, 2015) – The Lakeland Community College women's basketball team fell 53-44 to Columbus State in its regular season finale Saturday afternoon and will travel to Sinclair on Tuesday (March 3) as the No. 5-seed in the upcoming District I Tournament. The Lakers return to postseason play for the first time since 2011 and will take on a team they split the regular season series with. The winner of Tuesday's quarterfinal will advance to the district semifinals on Friday afternoon where No. 2 Owens awaits.
Nicole Upshaw (Cleveland, Ohio / Shaw) scored 15 points to lead all scorers while Molly Walsh (Newbury, Ohio / Newbury) added 12 as the Lakers fell to 14-15 overall and finished the season with a 7-7 record in Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) play.
Columbus State (20-4, 11-3 OCCAC) secured the No. 2-seed in the district tournament and receives an automatic bye into the semifinals hosted by Ohio Christian University.
Lakeland and Sinclair will meet at 7:30 p.m. for a chance to advance to the regional final four. Each team won on its respective home court during the regular season as the Lakers took the opener 67-61 in Kirtland before the Tartan Pride won the rematch in Dayton 76-75 in overtime.
Link >> Box Score
CINCINNATI, Ohio (February 22, 2015) – Host Cincinnati State placed six players in double figures including four starters to run past visiting Lakeland, 91-34, on Sunday afternoon. With the loss, the Lakers fall to 14-14 overall and 7-6 in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) with one game remaining in the regular season. Lakeland can clinch the fourth seed in the upcoming District I Tournament with a victory over Columbus State on Saturday (Feb. 28).
Jonessa Moore led all scorers with 18 points for the Surge, who clinched a third place finish in the conference and the upcoming District I Tournament with the victory.
Nicole Upshaw (Cleveland, Ohio / Shaw) and Molly Walsh (Newbury, Ohio / Newbury) each scored seven points in the loss for Lakeland.
The Lakers welcome the Cougars for a 1 p.m. tip-off Saturday afternoon. Lakeland is 10-3 at home on the season.
Link >> Box Score
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KIRTLAND, Ohio (February 18, 2015) – Freshman guard Peyton Neumore (Burton, Ohio / Berkshire) scored 16 points and hit four 3-pointers to propel the Lakeland women's basketball team past visiting Cuyahoga, 52-38, on Wednesday night.
The Lakers salvaged a split in the season series against the Challengers and improved to 14-13 overall and 7-5 in Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) games with the victory. Molly Walsh (Newbury, Ohio / Newbury) added eight points for Lakeland, which led wire-to-wire.
Sophomore forward Tierra Martin (South Euclid, Ohio / Brush) nearly posted a double-double, finishing with nine points and a team-high 10 rebounds.
Lakeland returns to action on Saturday when it travels to Cincinnati State for a 1 p.m. tip-off against the Surge.
Link >> Box Score
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DAYTON, Ohio (February 14, 2015) – The Lakeland women's basketball team erased a 20-point (27-7) first half deficit and outscored host Sinclair 40-30 in the second half to force overtime before falling 76-75 on Saturday afternoon. Lakeland had a chance to win the game in the final seconds but could not find the winning basket as time expired.
The loss moves the Lakers to 13-13 overall and 6-5 in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC). Lakeland will host Cuyahoga on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. before traveling to Cincinnati State on Saturday for a 1 p.m. tip-off.
Tierra Martin (South Euclid, Ohio / Brush) led the way with 17 points on six of nine shooting. She added a team-high 11 rebounds including four on the offensive end in the setback. Molly Walsh (Newbury, Ohio / Newbury) and Nicole Upshaw (Cleveland, Ohio / Shaw) each played all 45 minutes and finished with 16 and 15 points, respectively.
Mercedes Hobbs (Cleveland, Ohio / Twinsburg) added 11 points for the Lakers, who trailed 38-28 at the halftime break.
Link >> Box Score
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PERRYSBURG, Ohio (February 11, 2015) – Nationally-ranked Owens opened the game with 27 unanswered points en route to a 98-36 victory - its 25th straight - on Wednesday night. The Express improve to 25-1 overall and remain perfect at 10-0 in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) while the Lakers drop to 13-12 (6-4 OCCAC).
Tierra Martin (South Euclid, Ohio / Brush) scored eight points while classmate Nicole Upshaw (Cleveland, Ohio / Shaw) added seven for Lakeland.
Jummai Graves (Cleveland, Ohio / Glenville) hauled in a career-high nine rebounds in a career-high 22 minutes. The Lakers return to action on Saturday for a pivotal league game at Sinclair beginning at 2 p.m.
Link >> Box Score
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KIRTLAND, Ohio (February 10, 2015) - Sophomore guard Nicole Upshaw (Cleveland, Ohio / Shaw) has been named the OCCAC player of the week selections in men's and women's basketball, respectively. She averaged 22 points, 7.5 rebounds, five assists and 3.5 steals in wins over Lorain County Community College and Edison Community College last week.
In a 77-49 win over Lorain County, Upshaw had 16 points, seven assists, four rebounds and two steals. She followed that up with a career-high 28 points, 11 rebounds, five steals and three assists in a 66-54 win over Edison. It was her first double-double of the season.
Upshaw is averaging 13 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.5 steals and two assists per game for Lakeland (13-11 overall, 6-3 OCCAC play). They will travel to Owens Community College on Wednesday evening.
Release courtesy of Nicholas Huenefeld, OCCAC Sports Information.
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KIRTLAND, Ohio (February 7, 2015) – Nicole Upshaw (Cleveland, Ohio / Shaw) scored a career-high 28 points as the Lakeland women's basketball team built a comfortable 42-16 halftime lead then held off a second half rally to defeat visiting Edison, 66-54, on Saturday afternoon.
Upshaw finished with her first double-double of the season after pulling in game-high 11 rebounds. Mercedes Hobbs (Cleveland, Ohio / Twinsburg) and Tierra Martin (South Euclid, Ohio / Brush) hauled in 11 and 10 rebounds, respectively, to help the Lakers to a 64-38 advantage on the glass.
Molly Walsh (Newbury, Ohio / Newbury) added 13 points and seven rebounds while Melanie Primer (Madison, Ohio / Madison) provided a spark off the bench with six points and six rebounds in 25 minutes of action.
Lakeland improves to 13-11 overall and 6-3 in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) with the victory. The Lakers sit in third place and hold the tiebreaker against Cincinnati State (15-9, 6-3 OCCAC) by virtue of their head-to-head win on January 24.
LCC returns to action on Wednesday (Feb. 11) when it travels to Perrysburg, Ohio to take on No. 2 Owens at 5:30 p.m.
Link >> Box Score
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KIRTLAND, Ohio (February 4, 2015) – Four players scored in double digits, led by Mercedes Hobbs' (Cleveland, Ohio / Twinsburg) 18 points, as the Lakeland women's basketball team ended a two-game skid with a 77-49 victory over visiting Lorain County on Wednesday night. The Lakers improve to 12-11 overall and 5-3 in conference play with the win.
Hobbs matched a career-high after connecting on nine of 13 attempts from the floor to go along with eight rebounds and five steals. Freshman guard Peyton Neumore (Burton, Ohio / Berkshire) set a career-high with 17 points including five 3-pointers.
Sophomore guard Nicole Upshaw (Cleveland, Ohio / Shaw) chipped in 16 points and seven assists while classmate Molly Walsh (Newbury, Ohio / Newbury) added 11 points as Lakeland swept the season series from its local rival.
Tierra Martin (South Euclid, Ohio / Brush) hauled in a game-high ten rebounds for the Lakers, who held a 40-25 advantage on the glass.
Link >> Box Score
COLUMBUS, Ohio (January 31, 2015) – Columbus State used a late run to pull away from the Lakeland women's basketball team, 80-65, on Saturday afternoon. Sophomore guard Nicole Upshaw (Cleveland, Ohio / Shaw) matched a career-high with 25 points to go along with seven assists and five steals in the loss.
The Lakers (11-11, 4-3 OCCAC) will look to bounce back on Wednesday (Feb. 4) when they play host to Lorain County at 5:30 p.m.
Peyton Neumore (Burton, Ohio / Berkshire) and Mercedes Hobbs (Cleveland, Ohio / Twinsburg) added 11 points apiece while Molly Walsh (Newbury, Ohio / Newbury) also reached double figures with ten.
Columbus State held a 50-26 advantage on the glass and pulled down 25 offensive rebounds to improve to 14-3 overall (5-2 OCCAC).
Link >> Box Score
HIGHLAND HILLS, Ohio (January 28, 2015) – Despite 23 points and seven rebounds from sophomore guard Nicole Upshaw (Cleveland, Ohio / Shaw) the Lakeland women's basketball team fell to host Cuyahoga, 72-63, on Wednesday night. The Lakers drop to 11-10 overall and 4-2 in Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) play and will travel to Columbus on Saturday (Jan. 31) for another league tilt against Columbus State.
Sophomore Mercedes Hobbs (Cleveland, Ohio / Twinsburg) added 11 points, a team-high eight rebounds, and four steals in the setback. Cuyahoga limited Lakeland to just 30% shooting from the floor and forced 24 turnovers to improve to 5-9 overall and 2-3 in league play.
Link >> Box Score
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KIRTLAND, Ohio (January 24, 2015) – Sophomore guard Molly Walsh (Newbury, Ohio / Newbury) made the game-winning layup with under 30 seconds to play in overtime to cap a huge second half rally for the Lakeland women's basketball team in an 81-78 victory over nationally-ranked Cincinnati State on Saturday afternoon.
Walsh finished with a team-high 16 points, none more significant than the final two which gave the Lakers a 79-78 lead in overtime. Mercedes Hobbs (Cleveland, Ohio / Twinsburg) came up with a huge block on the ensuing possession before a Cincinnati State 3-pointer came up empty to give Lakeland the ball back with 16 seconds to go. A quick foul by the Surge sent Tyra Turk (South Euclid, Ohio / Brush) to the free throw line where the sophomore guard calmly sank both tries.
After a Cincinnati State timeout, the Lakeland defense forced the visitors into bobbling the inbounds pass. The Surge retained possession near midcourt but were left with 0.3 seconds on the clock to find a game-tying triple. The nation's 11th-ranked team could not get a shot off in time and suffered its first conference loss of the season. Lakeland improved to 11-9 overall and moved into second place in the OCCAC with a 4-1 record.
The Lakers fought back from a 14-point second half deficit to force overtime after closing out the second half on an 11-4 run. Alana Stokes (Massillon, Ohio / Massillon Washington) drilled the game-tying jumper with 14 seconds remaining moments after Tierra Martin (South Euclid, Ohio / Brush) came up with a pivotal block on the defensive end to keep the game within reach. Cincinnati State's Samia Carter drove the length of the floor in the final seconds, but her layup caromed off the back iron as the horn sounded.
Freshman Peyton Neumore (Burton, Ohio / Berkshire) provided a spark off the bench with 14 points and three assists. The guard kept Lakeland in it in the first half with three straight 3-pointers in 90 seconds as part of a 9-2 run. Martin added a double-double on ten points and a team-high 11 rebounds while Turk (11), Stokes (11), and Hobbs (10) also scored in double figures.
Lakeland returns to action on Wednesday (Jan. 28) when it travels to local rival Cuyahoga for a 5 p.m. conference game.
Links >> Game Notes | Box Score
KIRTLAND, Ohio (January 21, 2015) – The nation's third-ranked team used a late 19-4 run to provide separation from Lakeland and pull out a 73-58 victory in Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) women's basketball action Wednesday night. The Lakers played the Express even for 32 minutes and had the game deadlocked at 52 with eight minutes to play before the pivotal spurt by the visitors.
Lakeland (10-9, 3-1 OCCAC) took a 33-31 lead at the break behind 11 first-half points from sophomore guard Nicole Upshaw (Cleveland, Ohio / Shaw). Her jumper with just over five minutes remaining in the period gave the Lakers a 27-16 lead - their largest of the game. The Express closed on a 15-6 run to cut the gap to just two with 20 minutes to go.
It was just the second time this season Owens (19-1, 4-0), winners of 19 straight games since a season-opening loss, faced a deficit at the half.
Molly Walsh (Newbury, Ohio / Newbury) and Peyton Neumore (Burton, Ohio / Berkshire) combined for seven 3-pointers on ten attempts to finish with 16 and 10 points, respectively. Tyra Turk (South Euclid, Ohio / Brush) and Mercedes Hobbs (Cleveland, Ohio / Twinsburg) each pulled in a team-high eight rebounds for the Lakers, who will host another nationally-ranked team on Saturday afternoon.
Lakeland welcomes Cincinnati State (12-6, 3-0) to the Athletic & Fitness Center on January 24 for a 1 p.m. tip-off.
Link >> Game Notes | Box Score
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KIRTLAND, Ohio (January 17, 2015) – Peyton Neumore (Burton, Ohio / Berkshire) matched a career-high with 14 points off the bench, Nicole Upshaw (Cleveland, Ohio / Shaw) chipped in 12, and the Lakeland women's basketball team improved to 3-0 in conference play with a 66-61 victory over visiting Sinclair Saturday afternoon. The Lakers (10-8) jumped out to a 10-point halftime lead before withstanding a late rally from the Tartan Pride to stay perfect in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC).
Neumore connected on five of nine attempts from the floor, including four of eight tries from beyond the arc, to spark the Lakeland offense off the bench. Upshaw added eight rebounds and five assists in 37 minutes while Mercedes Hobbs (Cleveland, Ohio / Twinsburg) also reached double figures with 11 points in the victory.
The win sets up a meeting against No. 3 Owens on Wednesday (Jan. 24) at 5:30 p.m. in a matchup of two unbeaten teams in OCCAC play.
Link >> Box Score
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ELYRIA, Ohio (January 14, 2015) – The Lakeland women's basketball team jumped out to a 32-15 lead at the half and never looked back in an 80-38 victory over Lorain County on Wednesday night. The Lakers move above the .500 mark and improve to 9-8 overall (2-0 OCCAC) with the win.
Sophomore forward Tierra Martin (South Euclid, Ohio / Brush) posted a double-double off the bench with 14 points and a team-high 13 rebounds. Classmate Mercedes Hobbs (Cleveland, Ohio / Twinsburg) added a career-high 18 points on nine of 13 shooting.
Molly Walsh (Newbury, Ohio / Newbury) and Tyra Turk (South Euclid, Ohio / Brush) also reached double figures with 14 and 13 points, respectively.
The Lakers will look to remain unbeaten in league play when they host Sinclair (11-7, 1-2 OCCAC) on Saturday (Jan. 17) at 1 p.m. in the first league home game of the season.
Link >> Box Score
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PIQUA, Ohio (January 10, 2015) – Freshman guard Alana Stokes (Massillon, Ohio / Massillon Washington) scored 13 points and pulled in a career-high 10 rebounds as the Lakeland women's basketball team ran past host Edison, 67-40, in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) opener for both sides Saturday afternoon. With the victory Lakeland improves to 8-8 overall and 1-0 in league play entering Wednesday's showdown at local rival Lorain County.
Stokes connected on five of 14 attempts from the floor and added six assists in the win. Classmate Peyton Neumore (Burton, Ohio / Berkshire) provided a spark off the bench with a career-high 14 points and accounted for all four of Lakeland's 3-pointers on the day.
Tyra Turk (South Euclid, Ohio / Brush) and Mercedes Hobbs (Cleveland, Ohio / Twinsburg) added 10 points apiece for the Lakers. Hobbs matched Stokes' output on the glass to register her second double-double of the season.
Link >> Box Score
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SANBORN, N.Y. (January 6, 2015) – Despite 19 points from sophomore guard Nicole Upshaw (Cleveland, Ohio / Shaw) and a solid first half, the Lakeland women's basketball team fell to host Niagara County, 72-54, in the final non-conference game of the season Tuesday night. The Lakers (7-8) open the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) schedule on Saturday when they travel to Edison for a 1 p.m. tip-off.
Upshaw connected on eight of 14 attempts from the floor and converted all three tries from the charity stripe to pace the Lakers. She added three assists and three steals while Tierra Martin (South Euclid, Ohio / Brush) contributed ten points and nine rebounds off the bench.
Merrick Rowland scored a team-high 23 points for the Thunderwolves, who extended a one-point halftime lead by outscoring the Lakers 37-20 over the final 20 of play to earn the season sweep.
Link >> Box Score
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SOUTH HOLLAND, Ill. (December 20, 2014) – Lakeland closed out a three-game road trip with a 68-40 loss to host South Suburban in the final day of the South Suburban Holiday Tournament on Saturday afternoon. The Lakers fall to 7-7 after being outscored by the Bulldogs 30-13 in second half.
Mercedes Hobbs (Cleveland, Ohio / Twinsburg) led the way with 11 points and five rebounds in 23 minutes of action. Nicole Upshaw (Cleveland, Ohio / Shaw) added ten points while Peyton Neumore (Burton, Ohio / Berkshire) chipped in seven off the bench.
The loss marks the final game of the fall semester. Lakeland faces Niagara County on Tuesday, January 6 in its final non-conference game before traveling to Edison on Saturday, January 10 to open conference play against the Chargers.
Link >> Box Score
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SOUTH HOLLAND, Ill. (December 19, 2014) – The Lakeland women's basketball team outscored Kennedy-King 38-28 in the second half but was unable to overcome a 23-point halftime deficit en route to a 76-63 loss in the opening round of South Suburban Holiday Tournament outside Chicago.
Nicole Upshaw (Cleveland, Ohio / Shaw) continued her torrid scoring streak with a team-high 24 points on 12 of 19 shooting to go along with a team-high eight rebounds. The sophomore guard is averaging over 21 points per game in her last three. Molly Walsh (Newbury, Ohio / Newbury) and Peyton Neumore (Burton, Ohio / Berkshire) added 13 and nine points, respectively.
Jazmaine Elem paced Kennedy-King (14-1) with 23 points and 13 rebounds. Lakeland closes out the tournament with an afternoon meeting against host South Suburban.
Link >> Box Score
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DANVILLE, Ill. (December 18, 2014) – Danville Area Community College raced out to a 35-12 lead at the half en route to a 72-33 victory over visiting Lakeland in non-conference women's basketball action Friday evening. The Lakers open the three-game Chicago-area road trip with a loss and fall to 7-5 overall on the season.
Nicole Upshaw (Cleveland, Ohio / Shaw) led the Lakers with 15 points on six of 11 shooting but was the only player to reach double figures. Mercedes Hobbs (Cleveland, Ohio / Twinsburg) added eight points and five rebounds in 31 minutes.
Lakeland takes on Kennedy-King tomorrow (Dec. 19) at 5 p.m. before meeting South Suburban on Saturday (Dec. 20) to close out the road trip.
Link >> Box Score
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KIRTLAND, Ohio (December 16, 2014) – Visiting Jamestown erased a seven-point halftime deficit by outscoring Lakeland 42-25 over the final 20 minutes of play to rally for a 74-64 victory on Tuesday night inside the Athletic & Fitness Center. The Lakers fall to 7-4 overall and will play the next six games on the road before returning home to host Sinclair on January 17 at 1 p.m.
Nicole Upshaw (Cleveland, Ohio / Shaw) poured in a career-high 25 points on eight of 19 shooting to pace the Lakers.
Lakeland raced out to an early lead and extended its advantage to 18 with eight minutes remaining in the first half on a Keesha Henderson (Cleveland, Ohio / Glenville) layup. Jamestown countered with a 15-4 run to close out the period and trim to deficit to just seven at the break.
The visitors went on top 55-53 with less than seven minutes to play in the second half, their first lead since scoring the game's opening basket.
Upshaw converted a pair of free throws on the ensuing possession to pull Lakeland even but Elle Reed, who finished with 29 points, responded with one of five 3-pointers on the night to give Jamestown the lead for good.
The Jayhawks improve to 11-2 overall with the victory.
Lakeland opens a three-game road trip on Thursday when it takes on nationally-ranked Danville Area Community College at 4 p.m.
Link >> Box Score
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FLINT, Mich. (December 13, 2014) – Sophomore forward Mercedes Hobbs (Cleveland, Ohio / Twinsburg) scored 15 points and hauled in a career-high 15 rebounds to help the Lakeland women's basketball team rally past Mott, 65-62, on Saturday afternoon. The win snaps a three-game slide for the Lakers as they move to 7-3 overall on the year entering Tuesday's home game against Jamestown at 5:30 p.m.
Lakeland trailed 38-30 at halftime but outscored Mott 35-24 over the final 20 minutes of play to pull out the victory. Keesha Henderson (Cleveland, Ohio / Glenville) chipped in 10 points off the bench as part of a trio of reserves who made key contributions in the victory. Peyton Neumore (Burton, Ohio / Berkshire) and Tyra Turk (South Euclid, Ohio / Brush) added nine and eight points, respectively, to give Lakeland a lift.
The Lakers host the Jayhawks on Tuesday in the final home game of the semester before embarking on a three-game road trip to close out the month.
Link >> Box Score
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PORT HURON, Mich. (December 12, 2014) – Four players scored in double figures as St. Clair County used a big first half to run past Lakeland, 81-47, in non-conference women's basketball action Friday night. Leah Humes led the way with a team-high 17 points for the Skippers.
Sophomore Nicole Upshaw (Cleveland, Ohio / Shaw) posted a team-high 10 points for the Lakers while classmate Mercedes Hobbs (Cleveland, Ohio / Twinsburg) added nine and six rebounds in the loss.
Lakeland (6-3) returns to action tomorrow (Dec. 13) when it takes on Mott at 1 p.m.
Link >> Box Score
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NORTH EAST, Pa. (December 6, 2014) – Host Mercyhurst North East put three starters in double figures en route to a 69-41 victory over visiting Lakeland in non-conference women's basketball action Saturday afternoon. Sophomore guard Tyra Turk (South Euclid, Ohio / Brush) scored a team-high nine points off the bench for the Lakers, who fell to 6-2 overall after opening the season with six straight victories.
Freshman guard Peyton Neumore (Burton, Ohio / Berkshire) added eight points and eight rebounds off the bench while sophomore guard Nicole Upshaw (Cleveland, Ohio / Shaw) hauled in a team-high nine board in the setback.
The Lakers take the week off for finals before returning to the court on Friday (Dec. 12) at St. Clair County beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Link >> Box Score
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KIRTLAND, Ohio (December 2, 2014) – Visiting Niagara County put four starters in double figures en route to a 59-50 victory over previously unbeaten Lakeland in non-conference women's basketball action Tuesday night inside the Athletic & Fitness Center. The Thunderwolves and Lakers each received votes in the latest NJCAA Division II national poll on Tuesday afternoon and entered the game a combined 13-0.
Freshman guards Keesha Henderson (Cleveland, Ohio / Glenville) and Tyra Turk (South Euclid, Ohio / Brush) led the Lakers with 13 points apiece.
Lakeland (6-1) was off to its best start in nearly 15 years before Tuesday's setback and will look to bounce back on Saturday when it travels to Mercyhurst North East at 1 p.m.
Links >> Game Notes | Box Score
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KIRTLAND, Ohio (November 25, 2014) – The Lakeland Community College women's basketball team outscored visiting Mercyhurst North East 29-21 in the second half to extend a one-point halftime lead and move to 6-0 on the year with a 51-42 victory on Tuesday night inside the Athletic & Fitness Center.
Keesha Henderson (Cleveland, Ohio / Glenville) scored 11 points and registered eight steals while Melanie Primer (Madison, Ohio / Madison) added a team-high 12 rebounds in the victory.
Alana Stokes (Massillon, Ohio / Massillon Washington) provided a spark off the bench with 11 points on five of eight shooting.
The Lakers return to action in exactly one week when they host Niagara County Community College at 5:30 p.m.
Links >> Game Notes | Box Score
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AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (November 22, 2014) –The Lakeland Community College women's basketball team improved to 5-0 with a 60-34 victory at Oakland Community College in non-conference action Saturday afternoon. Tierra Martin (South Euclid, Ohio / Brush) scored 13 points off the bench to lead the Lakers in their first road game of the season.
Keesha Henderson (Cleveland, Ohio / Glenville) added 11 points while sophomore Nicole Upshaw (Cleveland, Ohio / Shaw) chipped in 10.
Lakeland took a 25-22 halftime lead before outscoring the Raiders 35-12 over the final 20 minutes of play to cruise to the victory.
The Lakers return home on Tuesday (Nov. 25) when they play host to Mercyhurst North East at 5:30 p.m.
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KIRTLAND, Ohio (November 15, 2014) – Tournament MVP Nicole Upshaw (Cleveland, Ohio / Shaw) scored 14 points to lead the Lakeland women's basketball team past nationally-ranked Macomb, 54-37, and win the 7th Annual TJ Memorial Classic Championship on Saturday afternoon. The Lakers moved to 4-0 on the season with the victory and will head to Batavia, New York on Tuesday to take on Genesee at 5:30 p.m.
Lakeland held Macomb to 24% shooting on the afternoon and never trailed in the game to capture the tournament title for the fourth time.
All-tournament team selection Keesha Henderson (Cleveland, Ohio / Glenville) added 12 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and five steals in the victory.
The hosts built a 33-13 halftime lead by holding the visitors to 19% shooting from the floor before a Henderson layup with 16 minutes to go in the second half gave the Lakers their largest lead of the game at 44-17. The Monarchs would not seriously threaten the rest of the way despite 10 points off the bench from Micaeh McGlaun.
All-Tournament Team
Nicole Upshaw, MVP
Keesha Henderson, Lakeland
Alana Stokes, Lakeland
De'Asia Clark, Macomb
Sydney Morgan, Macomb
Keyanna Austin, Henry Ford
Hannah Hodges, Erie
Links >> Tournament Program | Box Score
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KIRTLAND, Ohio (November 14, 2014) – Alana Stokes (Massillon, Ohio / Massillon Washington) scored a career-high 18 points off the bench to propel the Lakeland women's basketball team past Henry Ford and into the championship game of the 7th Annual TJ Memorial Classic Championship game with a 74-62 victory on Friday night. Lakeland will square off with Macomb on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. after the Monarchs dispatched Erie, 80-51, earlier in the day. It will be the Lakers second straight trip to the Classic title game.
Freshman guard Keesha Henderson (Cleveland, Ohio / Glenville) added a career-high 15 points while sophomore forward Mercedes Hobbs (Cleveland, Ohio / Twinsburg) chipped in six points and a game-high 12 rebounds for Lakeland (3-0).
Sydney Holmes led the Hawks with 16 points and six assists while Keyanna Austin and Taylor Works added 15 and 11 points, respectively.
Henry Ford will take on Erie in the women's consolation game on Saturday morning at 10 a.m.
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KIRTLAND, Ohio - On Friday, November 14 and Saturday, November 15 Lakeland will host the 7th Annual TJ Memorial Classic inside the Athletic & Fitness Center. The tournament features two days of competition between NJCAA programs from Ohio, Michigan, and New York and has been a fixture on campus since 2008.
Link>> Tournament Program
Friday, November 14
| 2:00 PM | Women: Macomb def. Erie, 80-51 |
| 4:00 PM | Men: Erie def. (2)Oakland, 106-105 (2 OT) |
| 6:00 PM | Women: Lakeland def. Henry Ford, 74-62 |
| 8:00 PM | Men: Lakeland adv. vs. Henry Ford (no game) |
Saturday, November 15
| 10:00 AM | Henry Ford def. Erie (Women's Consolation Game), 69-46 |
| 12:00 PM | (2)Oakland def. Henry Ford (Men's Consolation Game), 65-49 |
| 2:00 PM | Lakeland def. (20)Macomb (Women's Championship Game), 54-37 |
| 4:00 PM | Lakeland def. Erie (Men's Championship Game), 89-82 |
KIRTLAND, Ohio (November 7, 2014) – The Lakeland women's basketball team shook off another slow start to dispatch visiting Lansing, 64-56, on Friday night inside the Athletic & Fitness Center. The Lakers (2-0) were led by Nicole Upshaw's (Cleveland, Ohio / Shaw) team-high 15 points. Tierra Martin (South Euclid, Ohio / Brush) added 10 crucial points off the bench in the victory.
Lansing (0-2) scored the first eight points of the game and led by as many as nine in the first half before Lakeland began to chip away at the deficit. An Alana Stokes (Massillon, Ohio / Massillon Washington) layup with seven minutes remaining in the gave the Lakers their first lead of the game at 20-19. The Stars would respond with an 8-2 run to close the half and take a 34-30 lead into the locker rooms.
The two sides traded baskets through the first five minutes of the second half before Lakeland rattled off an 11-2 run to seize the lead at 46-42. Dyann Wiley's conventional 3-point play would pull the visitors within a point with 10 minutes to play, the closest they would get to tying the score the rest of the way. Upshaw and freshman Keesha Henderson (Cleveland, Ohio / Glenville) connected on all four tries from the charity stripe down the stretch to put the game away.
Henderson and classmate Peyton Neumore (Burton, Ohio / Berkshire) finished with nine points apiece while sophomore Mercedes Hobbs (Cleveland, Ohio / Twinsburg) chipped in six points and a team-high eight rebounds for Lakeland.
The Lakers return to action on Friday at 6 p.m. when they host Henry Ford in the opening round of the 7th Annual TJ Memorial Classic on campus. A victory will move LCC into the championship game on Saturday at 2 p.m. against the winner of Erie and Macomb.
Links >> Game Notes | Box Score
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KIRTLAND, Ohio (November 4, 2014) – Molly Walsh (Newbury, Ohio / Newbury) poured in a career-high 20 points on seven of ten shooting to propel the Lakeland women's basketball team to a 66-53 victory over visiting Genesee in the season opener Tuesday night. The sophomore added eight rebounds and finished four of six from beyond the arc to lead all scorers.
Classmate Tyra Turk (South Euclid, Ohio / Brush) added 11 points and a pair of assists for Lakeland (1-0) while Breana Gleaton (Waldorf, Md.) led Genesee with 12 points and six rebounds in the loss .
The Lakers fell behind early as Genesee raced out to a 25-13 lead through the first ten minutes of the opening half. Trailing by nine (29-20) with just over five minutes remaining in the first half, the hosts rattled off a 14-4 run, which included a Walsh 3-pointer on back-to-back possessions, for their first lead of the game. The Lakers would take a 37-35 advantage into the locker room before outscoring the Cougars 29-18 in the second half on their way to the win.
LCC returns to action on Friday when it plays host to Lansing (Mich.) at 5:30 p.m.
Links >> Game Notes | Box Score
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Aslea Williams - Shaw University (N.C.) - NCAA Div. I
Zipporah Tidwell - Alderson-Broaddus College (W.Va.) - NCAA Div. III
Sirshawna Dowdy - Alderson-Broaddus College (W.Va.) - NCAA Div. III
Tiara Roberts - Wilberforce University (Ohio) - NAIAI
Danielle Lewis - Wilberforce University (Ohio) - NAIA
The Laker's Women's Basketball team lost to Sinclair Community College 77-55 on Saturday. With the loss, the Lakers dropped to 10-11 overall and 3-4 in the OCCAC. Sinclair outscored the Lakers 53-30 in the first three quarters and cruised to the win. Lakeland's Jaelah Dye scored 21 points and had 10 rebounds while Bri Williams and Aloneet Durden pitched in with 15 points and 10 points respectively.
The Lakers travel to Columbus State on Wednesday for a 5:30pm tip against the Cougars before playing host to Edison State Community College on Saturday (2/5) at 1:00pm.
Coaching Staff
| General Information | |
| Phone: | 440.525.7841 |
| Email: | wbasketball@lakelandcc.edu |
| Contacts | |
| Ornette Gardenhire Head Coach | Women's Basketball |
| Marqia Ivey Assistant Coach | Women's Basketball |
Coaches Bios Description
2016-17 marks the first season for Ornette Gardenhire as the women's basketball head coach, and his eighth season at Lakeland. Gardenhire was an assistant coach with the Lakeland men's basketball program for seven years.
Since his arrival, the Lakers have increased their win total each season and have won a pair of Region 12, District 11 championships for the first time in school history. In Gardenhire's third season, Lakeland earned the program's first district title and NJCAA Division II National Tournament appearance, ultimately finishing eighth. Last year, Gardenhire helped the Lakers repeat as district champions and advance to the Final Four before falling to eventual national champion Mott Community College in the national semifinals.
No stranger to NJCAA men's basketball or the national tournament, Gardenhire was an assistant at nearby Cuyahoga Community College in 2003-04 when the Challengers won a national championship. He helped Cuyahoga repeat as district champions one year later and advance to the NJCAA Final Four. Gardenhire assumed head coaching responsibilities for the 2007-08 season, guiding his team to a 21-9 overall record and 12-4 mark in OCCAC competition.
The following season he transitioned to Lakeland to work alongside head coach Terry Bowe. Gardenhire was a four-year college starter, playing two years at Lackawanna Junior College in Scranton, Pa. before playing his final two seasons at Bloomfield College in Bloomfield, N.J.
He and his wife, Debra, have five children.
Roster
| No. | Name | Pos. | Ht. | Cl. | Hometown | High School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Makea Scott | G | 5-5 | Fr. | Richmond Heights, Ohio | Richmond Heights |
| 10 | Brianna Prugel | G | 5-5 | Fr. | Painseville, Ohio | Riverside |
| 11 | Alicia Sephus | G | 5-4 | Fr. | Garfield Heights, Ohio | Garfield Heights |
| 12 | Kierra Cunningham | G | 5-10 | Fr. | Massillon, Ohio | McKinley Senior |
| 21 | Alexis Hoxie | G | 5-3 | Fr. | Euclid, Ohio | Euclid |
| 24 | Christina Grzsik | G | 5-1 | Fr. | Willoughby, Ohio | Chardon |
| 32 | Patricia Cistrunk | F | 6-0 | Fr. | Cleveland, Ohio | John F. Kennedy |
| 34 | Tiffiney Rouse | G | 5-3 | Fr. | Garfield Heights, Ohio | Garfield Heights |
| 54 | Alicia Ward | C | 5-11 | Fr. | Euclid, Ohio | Richmond Heights |
Head Coach: Ornette Gardenhire
Assistant Coach: Marquia Ivey
Prior to Lakeland, Scott was a three sport athlete in high school as she played volleyball, basketball, and softball.
Prior to Lakeland, Prugel was a two time MVP of the basketball team was well as being named the team captain during her junior and senior year.
Prior to Lakeland, Sephus was named an all-conferecne player during her junior season, as wel as being named team MVP.
Prior to Lakeland, Cunningham was a three year starter and captain of the McKinley Senior basketball team. Off the court she was a member of the honor role for three years.
Prior to Lakeland, Grzsik played softball for Chardon High School. She earned first place in the regionals Academic Decathlon and third place in a state competition for fossils for the science olympiad.
Prior to Lakeland, Rouse was a member of the Garfield basketball team in 2012-13 when they won their conference championship.
