Redden Ready to Help Raiders When Time Comes
2/1/2019 10:23:00 AM | Women's Basketball
by Alan Hieber
Wright State women's basketball added another stud post player in 6-1 forward and Hillsborough, N.J. native Gabi Redden, a transfer from Marist who will be eligible to start playing next winter semester of 2020.
The path that led Redden to WSU when she was planning to transfer couldn't have been scripted much better. The Raiders defeated Marist 76-60 during a Thanksgiving tournament earlier this season in Nashville.
"I saw Wright State and they were exactly what I was looking for as in a style of play, which had forwards that were more of a collective and everyone had a job on the team," Redden said. "Three days after the tournament ended they contacted me. Them reaching out made it like fate almost and I was meant to come here."
Rebounding comes natural to Redden. Ranking 13th in the nation in rebounds per game (44.05), WSU should be a good fit from that perspective.
"The fact that I'm a strong rebounder and have crafty moves down low even though I'm smaller, that puts me at an advantage," Redden said. "I definitely feel like I have a place on the team. In practice it feels like home."
"Gabi is very strong yet light on her feet is aggressive and loves contact," WSU head coach Katrina Merriweather said. "She has the ability to finish with both hands, which will allow her to give us an additional scoring presence on the low block."
Just two weeks into practices with the team, Merriweather's coaching has already impressed Redden.
"I love what coach Trina instills in us, how everyone is accountable for their actions and we all have to be tuned into practices. It takes all of us, and she really highlights that fact," Redden said. " Even though I can't play yet she makes me understand how important I am to the team and how glad they are for me to be here. We want to finish this season on a high note and for years to come."
Under the tutelage of Raider senior guard and all-time leading rebounder Symone Simmons in program history, along with second-highest rebounding player in sophomore forward Tyler Frierson, Redden couldn't of asked for much better mentors.
"Since all of our post players are so strong, that's helped me a lot having to go down low and battle with them everyday in practice," Redden said " It's only been two weeks, so can't wait to see how much better I get from them pushing me."
"Gabi's personality is infectious. The benefit of having a mid-year transfer is she brings a lot of energy," Merriweather said. "The post spot has already become more competitive in practice."
Off the court Redden is pursuing a major in political science and a minor in pre-law. She hopes to play professionally and then take a career track that could lead her to the political arena one day.
"I'm taking an interest in corporate, entertainment or family law," Redden said. "Hopefully I could do some work in that field and afterward get involved in politics and maybe be a senator. I'm crossing my fingers, but I would love to do that."
Despite not being eligible to play this season, you might not think that based on her focus for the short-term.
"I feel like we have to recognize that truth and that we can be an NCAA tournament team," Redden said. "We have to take it one practice at a time. That is the point of all of this. Even though I'm not playing I would still be a part of it."
Wright State women's basketball added another stud post player in 6-1 forward and Hillsborough, N.J. native Gabi Redden, a transfer from Marist who will be eligible to start playing next winter semester of 2020.
The path that led Redden to WSU when she was planning to transfer couldn't have been scripted much better. The Raiders defeated Marist 76-60 during a Thanksgiving tournament earlier this season in Nashville.
"I saw Wright State and they were exactly what I was looking for as in a style of play, which had forwards that were more of a collective and everyone had a job on the team," Redden said. "Three days after the tournament ended they contacted me. Them reaching out made it like fate almost and I was meant to come here."
Rebounding comes natural to Redden. Ranking 13th in the nation in rebounds per game (44.05), WSU should be a good fit from that perspective.
"The fact that I'm a strong rebounder and have crafty moves down low even though I'm smaller, that puts me at an advantage," Redden said. "I definitely feel like I have a place on the team. In practice it feels like home."
"Gabi is very strong yet light on her feet is aggressive and loves contact," WSU head coach Katrina Merriweather said. "She has the ability to finish with both hands, which will allow her to give us an additional scoring presence on the low block."
Just two weeks into practices with the team, Merriweather's coaching has already impressed Redden.
"I love what coach Trina instills in us, how everyone is accountable for their actions and we all have to be tuned into practices. It takes all of us, and she really highlights that fact," Redden said. " Even though I can't play yet she makes me understand how important I am to the team and how glad they are for me to be here. We want to finish this season on a high note and for years to come."
Under the tutelage of Raider senior guard and all-time leading rebounder Symone Simmons in program history, along with second-highest rebounding player in sophomore forward Tyler Frierson, Redden couldn't of asked for much better mentors.
"Since all of our post players are so strong, that's helped me a lot having to go down low and battle with them everyday in practice," Redden said " It's only been two weeks, so can't wait to see how much better I get from them pushing me."
"Gabi's personality is infectious. The benefit of having a mid-year transfer is she brings a lot of energy," Merriweather said. "The post spot has already become more competitive in practice."
Off the court Redden is pursuing a major in political science and a minor in pre-law. She hopes to play professionally and then take a career track that could lead her to the political arena one day.
"I'm taking an interest in corporate, entertainment or family law," Redden said. "Hopefully I could do some work in that field and afterward get involved in politics and maybe be a senator. I'm crossing my fingers, but I would love to do that."
Despite not being eligible to play this season, you might not think that based on her focus for the short-term.
"I feel like we have to recognize that truth and that we can be an NCAA tournament team," Redden said. "We have to take it one practice at a time. That is the point of all of this. Even though I'm not playing I would still be a part of it."
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