Women's Basketball 8/6/2025 1:10:00 PM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Women's Basketball Signs Three Freshmen For 2025-26

Asberry, Benard and Rickli to become Warriors this fall.

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University women's basketball program, led by 15th-year head coach Carrie Lohr, has signed three freshmen for the upcoming 2025-26 campaign. Joining the Warriors are guard DeMaya Asberry (Warren, Mich. / Cousino), guard Maddy Benard (Grosse Pointe Park, Mich. / Grosse Pointe South), and center AJ Rickli (Mattawan, Mich. / Paw Paw).

"DeMaya, Maddy and AJ all fit the WSU model of academic excellence, athletic success and community service," remarked Coach Lohr. "Each player brings a unique skill set that will benefit our program on and off the court."

DeMaya Asberry, G, 5-6, Fr., Warren, Mich. / Cousino
High School: A 2025 graduate of Warren Cousino High School ... was a multiple-year letterwinner for coach Amy Mitchell ... helped the Patriots to a 15-11 record as a senior, including three wins in the state tournament ... aided in WCHS compiling a 17-7 record as a junior ... selected Detroit Free Press Girls Prep Athlete of the Week on March 10, 2025 ... named Cousino Athlete of the Month for January 2025 ... served as a basketball team captain ... also competed in cross country and track & field for WCHS ... spent two years (2022 and 2024) on the cross country squad and ran in the MHSAA regional meet both years ... participated primarily in the 400m dash and 4x400m relay in both 2022 and 2023 ... 400m personal-best of 1:08.79 came at the 2023 MHSAA regional track meet ... graduated Cum Laude ... played basketball during the summer for the Always 100 and coach K'Len Morris.

Personal: Full name -- DeMaya R. Asberry ... born on July 18, 2007, in Silver City, New Mexico ... daughter of Arthur and Leesha Asberry ... father played basketball at Western New Mexico ... has one brother, Arthur II, and one sister, Jasmine ... brother (https://ltuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/arthur-asberry/3593) played in 40 games over four seasons (2018-2022) at Lawrence Tech ... plans to major in Engineering ... name is pronounced DUH-may-yuh AS-berry.

Maddy Benard, G, 5-10, Fr., Grosse Pointe Park, Mich. / Grosse Pointe South
High School: A 2025 graduate of Grosse Pointe South High School ... was a four-year letterwinner for coach Kevin Richards ... set Blue Devil records for points in a season (440), steals in a season (143), career steals (430), and assists in a game (10), and became the fourth 1,000-point scorer finishing with 1,274 points ... averaged 15.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game as a senior, along with 4.3 steals and 3.7 assists per contest ... tallied 18.3 points and 3.1 rebounds per match as a junior after scoring 14.8 points per game as a sophomore ... selected to the 2024-25 All-State Second Team by both the Associated Press and Detroit News and Third Team by the Detroit Free Press ... named to the BCAM Best All-State squad ... ranked No. 12 in the state by the Detroit Free Press and No. 19 by the Detroit News ... earned First Team All-State recognition in 2023-24 from AP, and Second Team from both the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press ... garnered Honorable Mention All-State accolades as a sophomore from the Detroit Free Press and Detroit Newss ... was a two-year captain ... received Academic honors each of her last two seasons from both the Macomb Area Conference (MAC) and BCAM All-State ... plays during the summer for Michigan Storm UAA and coach A.W. Canada.

Personal: Full name -- Madison L. Benard ... born on October 21, 2006, in Detroit ... daughter of Steve and Laura Benard ... father played basketball at Rochester Christian and mother swam at Michigan ... has two older brothers, Stephen and Anthony ... Anthony is on the men's basketball team at Canisius ... plans to major in Business ... last name is pronounced ben-ARD.

AJ Rickli, C, 6-2, Fr., Mattawan, Mich. / Paw Paw
High School: A 2025 graduate of Paw Paw High School ... was a four-year letterwinner for coaches Dan Thornton and Ernie Ramirez ... helped the Red Wolves to a District title by averaging 22 points, 18 rebounds and four assists per game ... received First Team All-State recognition in 2025 from the Michigan Sports Writers and was a Miss Basketball Finalist ... earned Second Team Division 2 All-State honors from the Detroit News each of her last two years ... named to the 2025 BCAM's Best for Division 2 ... is the all-time leading scorer at PPHS ... totaled 42 points in a February 2025 win over Buchanan, while also grabbing 27 rebounds ... was a three-year basketball team captain ... earned seven additional letters at PPHS (three in volleyball and four in track and field) ... served two years as a volleyball team captain ... finished fourth at the 2025 MHSAA Division 2 regional track meet with a personal-best throw in the shot put of 36-3 ... also competed at the regional track meet in the discus each of her final three years ... best mark in the discus was 105-2 at the 2025 Wolverine Conference Championships ... garnered Academic Elite and Highest Honors ... plays during the summer for MBA and coach Al Gortmaker.

Personal: Full name -- Arin J. Rickli ... born on July 24, 2007, in Kalamazoo, Mich. ... daughter of Aaron and Danielle Rickli ... has two sisters, Taylor and Savanna ... plans to major in Business Management/Entrepreneurship ... name is pronounced AIR-in Rick-lie.

Last year's WSU women's basketball squad compiled a 20-12 overall record and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, but must replace seniors Shea Tripp, Alyssa Leister, Ally Shagena and ZaMaria Polk.

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Players Mentioned

#2 Alyssa Leister: G; 5' 10"; Senior

#34 ZaMaria Polk: F; 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior

#14 Ally Shagena: F; 5' 11"; Graduate Student

#23 Shea Tripp: F; 5' 10"; Senior

#11 DeMaya Asberry: G; 5' 8"; Freshman

#2 Maddy Benard: G; 5' 10"; Freshman

#23 AJ Rickli: C; 6' 2"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#2 Alyssa Leister
: 5' 10"; Senior
: G

#34 ZaMaria Polk
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior
: F

#14 Ally Shagena
: 5' 11"; Graduate Student
: F

#23 Shea Tripp
: 5' 10"; Senior
: F

#11 DeMaya Asberry
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: G

#2 Maddy Benard
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: G

#23 AJ Rickli
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: C