Women's Basketball 11/5/2019 3:15:00 PM Lauren Bryne, Sports Information Graduate Intern

Women's Basketball Opens Season with GLIAC/G-MAC Challenge

The Warriors will travel to Walsh on Friday and Lake Erie on Saturday.

WSU was voted fourth in the GLIAC South Division.

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University women's basketball program (0-0 overall) will begin the 2019-20 season in the annual GLIAC/G-MAC Challenge. The Warriors will travel to Walsh (0-0 overall) on Friday for a 5:30 p.m. contest, before heading to Lake Erie (0-0 overall) on Saturday for a 4:00 p.m. matchup.

STORYLINES
Wayne State will begin the 2019-20 campaign on the road, playing two games as part of the GLIAC/G-MAC Challenge. The Warriors will visit Walsh University on Friday, before traveling to Lake Erie on Saturday.

THE SERIES
WSU is tied 4-4 with Walsh in the all-time series, which began in 2013. The teams last met in January 2017 as then-GLIAC opponents, where the Warriors suffered an 81-72 overtime loss in Ohio. Wayne State looks to tally a second victory in Cavalier territory, as its record is 1-3 on the road.

The Green and Gold leads 9-4 in the all-time series against Lake Erie, including wins in eight of its last 10 contests. The series began in 2010, and the two programs have faced off in each of the previous nine seasons. In the most recent matchup, WSU fell 68-57 at home against the Storm in 2018. However, the Warriors have a 4-2 advantage in road contests.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Walsh concluded the 2018-19 season with a 25-7 record. The first-seeded Cavaliers were crowned G-MAC tournament champions after notching victories over Trevecca Nazarene, Hillsdale and Kentucky Wesleyan. By the end of the tournament, WU tallied the most wins since joining the NCAA DII ranks. It was also the team's first conference championship since joining the G-MAC. The Cavaliers dropped their Midwest Region quarterfinal contest, 86-71, to second-seeded Lewis.

Walsh is returning its leading scorer from last year in sophomore guard Quionche Carter (17.1 PPG). Carter also led the squad in rebounds (186), free throws made (131), assists (67) and steals (51). Junior forward Mayci Sales was second in both rebounding with 182 boards and scoring (11.5 PPG), and led in blocks (39).

Lake Erie lost its final six games in 2018-19, concluding the season with an overall record of 11-16. A third-year member of the G-MAC, the Storm previously competed in the GLIAC. Last year, LEC finished ninth in the conference (out of 14 schools), with an 8-14 record.

Senior guard Josie Chaddock is the top returning scorer at 13.5 PPG, while classmate Farrah Benner averaged 11.1 PPG. Benner led the team in three pointers (68), with Chaddock leading in free throws made (148), assists (106) and steals (60). Senior Ashley West returns after grabbing 151 boards last season.

NEW FACES
The 2019-20 campaign will feature four new faces on this season's 14-player roster. Joining the Warriors this year are freshmen Rebecca Fugate (5-7 guard) and Mercedes Wagner (6-1 center), along with transfers Ariel Bethea (5-9 guard from Owens CC) and Kara Wilson (5-8 guard from Illinois-Chicago).

PRESEASON ACCOLADES
Senior guard Nastassja Chambers was named to the All-GLIAC South Division Preseason Team. It is the second time that she has received this honor.

Chambers became the 18th player in school history to reach the 1,000 point plateau with a basket on Feb. 16, 2019. She enters the 2019-20 season ranked 16th in career points (1,061) in 83 games, and 13th with a 12.8 scoring average (min. 30 GP). She is also seventh in free throw percentage (.786 / min. 100 made), 11th in free throws made (221), 16th in field goals made (404), minutes per game (29.8 - min. 20 games), and minutes played (2,471), tied-for-16th in blocked shots (40), 17th in field goal percentage (.459 / 404-of-880 - min. 150 made), 25th in games started (62), tied-for-26th in steals (127), 31st in assists (135), and 42nd in three-pointers made (32). Chambers has scored in double figures 58 times, with 10 games of at least 20 points.

TABBED FOR FOURTH
Wayne State was voted fourth in the GLIAC South Division Preseason Coaches Poll. Grand Valley State was predicted to win the South Division with 11 first-place votes and 61 points, followed by Ashland (1 FPV - 51 points), Northwood (38 points), WSU (30 points), Davenport (20 points) and Saginaw Valley State (16 points).

In the North Division, Michigan Tech earned eight first-place votes and 58 points. Trailing the Huskies were Northern Michigan (4 FPV - 53 points), Ferris State (40 points), Wisconsin-Parkside (32 points), Lake Superior State (19 points) and Purdue Northwest (14 points).

WARRIOR COACHES
Assistant coach Karen Lafata has been by head coach Carrie Lohr's side almost since day one of Lohr's tenure. In Lafata's second year (2012-13), she helped guide WSU to the second-most wins in a season (22) as well as the first two NCAA Tournament wins in program history. The next year, Wayne State won the GLIAC regular-season title with a 17-5 record and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year. In 2014-15, Lafata assisted the Warriors in tying the school record for wins in a season (23), claiming the GLIAC South Division title with a school record 18 league victories, and advancing to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. WSU qualified three straight seasons (2013-14-15) for the NCAA Tournament posting a 5-3 mark.

Assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Jaresha Obey joined the Green and Gold in June of 2019. Prior to her time at WSU, Obey racked up nine years of collegiate coaching, including the last four at the University of the District of Columbia. She helped the Firebirds reach the East Coast Conference semifinals in her inaugural season at UDC, and was instrumental in the development of five All-Conference players, including the 2017-18 ECC Rookie of the Year. Obey has also coached at Delaware State (2014-15) and her alma mater, Rochester College (beginning in 2010). She was a three-year starter and a two-year team captain for RC, along with pursing a bachelor's degree in Sport Management. Obey earned a master's degree in Sports Administration from WSU in 2014. A Commissioned Officer in the Air Force Air National Guard, Obey attended the 2017 NCAA Women's Coaches Academy.

Graduate assistant Christina Green joined the coaching staff in the summer of 2019. Green played basketball for the Warriors between 2013 and 2017. She finished her collegiate experience ranked sixth in career field goal percentage (.510 / 173-339, min. 150 made) and tied-for-19th in blocked shots (33). Green also scored in double figures 19 times, 10 of which were during her senior year. Green earned her bachelor's degree in Management from Wayne State in May of 2018 and is currently pursuing a master's in Sports Administration.

FAMILIAR FOES
The Warriors will begin the 2019-20 season in the GLIAC/G-MAC Challenge with experience against both opponents. Wayne State fell 81-72 at then-GLIAC opponent Walsh in overtime on Jan. 5, 2017. Last year, WSU dropped its home contest, 68-57, to Lake Erie on Nov. 11, 2018.

TOUGH COMPETITION
Two GLIAC teams were ranked in the top 25 of the WBCA D2 Preseason Coaches Poll. Grand Valley State was ranked No. 3 behind Drury and Lubbock Christian, after a 29-4 record during the 2018-19 season. Ashland was ranked eighth following a 29-3 campaign. Additionally, Michigan Tech (21-9) received 10 votes.

COMCAST/XFINITY
Beginning in 2020, Wayne State's home women's basketball games will be aired live throughout the state of Michigan on Comcast CN 900. Sean Baligian, Rod Beard and Joe Abramson will call the action.

SEASON PREVIEW
The Wayne State University women's basketball squad looks to improve upon its 13-16 overall record from a year ago, and 8-12 mark in the GLIAC which saw the Warriors qualify for the conference tournament.

Four starters return for the Green and Gold, along with six other letterwinners. Head Coach Carrie Lohr enters her ninth season as the school's all-time leader in coaching victories. WSU added four newcomers to the roster, including two transfers and two freshmen.

Seniors Nastassja Chambers (11.6 PPG) and Alex Matus (51 triples) are the top two returning scorers, while sophomore Sam Cherney is top returning defensive player after grabbing 211 rebounds and blocking 30 shots last season. Sophomores Alexis Miller (second on the team with 45 assists) and Grace George (led the team in field goal percentage at .469) return after starting 18 and 17 games, respectively in 2018-19.

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Players Mentioned

#30 Ariel Bethea: G; 5' 9"; Redshirt Junior

#3 Nastassja Chambers: G; 5' 9"; Senior

#13 Sam Cherney: F; 6' 3"; Sophomore

#4 Becca Fugate: G; 5' 7"; Freshman

#32 Grace George: F; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#11 Alex Matus: G; 5' 7"; Senior

#10 Alexis Miller: G; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#23 Mercedes Wagner: C; 6' 1"; Freshman

#2 Kara Wilson: G; 5' 8"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#30 Ariel Bethea
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Junior
: G

#3 Nastassja Chambers
: 5' 9"; Senior
: G

#13 Sam Cherney
: 6' 3"; Sophomore
: F

#4 Becca Fugate
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: G

#32 Grace George
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: F

#11 Alex Matus
: 5' 7"; Senior
: G

#10 Alexis Miller
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: G

#23 Mercedes Wagner
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: C

#2 Kara Wilson
: 5' 8"; Junior
: G