Looking Back: Women's Basketball

The 2019-2020 Wright State women's basketball season is one that will forever be remembered in the history books not only for its efforts on the court but the events that took place off.

The novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the sports world from professional sports all the way down to high school sports and collegiate basketball was no exception. NCAA President Mark Emmert and the Board of Governors announced the cancelations of all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships, including the men's and women's National Invitation Tournaments, on March 12, officially closing the books on the season with an abrupt ending.

Under fourth year head coach Katrina Merriweather, the Raiders finished the season with 19 wins and 12 losses, including a 13-5 mark in Horizon League play to finish the regular season in a tie for second place in the final conference standings. After a 83-47 first round win over UIC, Wright State fell to Cleveland State 63-52 in the Horizon League Championship quarterfinals.

Merriweather has now tallied 94 total wins and just 39 losses in her four years as head coach.

"Despite the abrupt ending to out season, we are extremely proud of our squad after graduating the group we did last year," Merriweather said. "I am confident that our record and second place finish would have resulted in our programs' seventh straight postseason appearance. While our hearts go out to our seniors, I am excited to see what the future holds for them. I, and my amazing staff are looking forward to the day we get to come together and prepare for the opportunity to compete next season with a very talented roster."

This season saw a number of impressive wins by Merriweather's squad, including an 86-74 win on the road over Xavier in Cincinnati, a hard fought 69-61 win over SMU during the early days of December as well as rounding out regular season play defeating Horizon League foe Cleveland State 75-73 on February 8.

The Raiders left their mark on the glass, out-rebounding their opponents in their last nine contests, 425-305, dating back to a road contest at Youngstown State on February 6.

As a team, Wright State made its presence known nationally, finishing the regular season in the Top 10 in three separate categories, including finishing second in the country in offensive rebounds per game, averaging 17.0 boards per contest. The Raiders' 43.87 total rebounds per game average was No. 5 in the nation and their 1,360 total rebounds were the seventh-most in the country.
Wright State led the Horizon League in all three categories, while also finishing at the top of the league with 130 total blocked shots and with its 4.2 blocked shots per game average.

Five different players were honored by the Horizon League, headlined by Freshman of the Year Shamarre Hale. Sophomore Angel Baker was named to the All-League First Team and senior Michal Miller was named to the All-League Second Team. Hale and fellow freshman teammate Jada Roberson were both named to the All-Freshman Team, while junior Tyler Frierson rounded out the awards for the Raiders with her selection to the All-Defensive Team.

Baker totaled a team leading 1,061 total minutes (34.2 per game) on the hardwood starting all 31 games for the Raiders. Baker recorded 512 total points (16.5 points per game), including a career high 34 points on the road at SMU earlier this season. She led the Horizon League with her 118 assists.

Miller saw action in 28 of the Raiders' contests, starting 27 and totaling 746 minutes of action (26.6 per game) while recording 355 total points (12.7 per game) and 83 assists over the season. She had a season-high 25 points in Wright State's final regular season contest against Detroit Mercy. She posted five-plus rebounds in six different games this year while scoring in double figures 20 times, including four 20-plus point games.

Hale started two contests for Wright State but recorded minutes in all 31 contests, tallying 513 total minutes (16.5 per game) while pulling down 236 rebounds (7.6 per game) with 130 of those coming on the defensive glass. The redshirt freshman recorded 252 total points, averaging 8.1 points per game, while also providing 23 blocks for Wright State and 25 steals. She finished the year ranked fifth in the Horizon League in both total rebounds and rebounds per game.

Frierson finished the season 25th nationally with her 3.8 offensive rebounds per game average, a mark that was also tops in the HL. The California native saw action in 29 contests, starting all 29 while recording 586 minutes (20.2 per game) and pulling down 261 total rebounds (150 defensive), averaging 9.0 rebounds per game which ranked her first in the Horizon League.

Roberson saw action in all 31 contests for the Raiders, totaling 575 minutes on the floor, 18.5 minutes per game which saw her tally 206 total points (6.6 points per game). The Michigan native pulled down 111 total rebounds, averaging 3.6 per game, while also providing 50 assists and recording 29 steals.

Assistant coach Abby Jump was named to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's 'Thirty Under 30 list' for the third consecutive season, the association announced on March 18. The program recognizes 30 up-and-coming women's basketball coaches age 30 and under at all levels of the game. Each honoree has exemplified their involvement in community service, mentorship and impact on others, professional manner, and attitude and professional association involvement.

Players Mentioned

Angel Baker

Tyler Frierson

Shamarre Hale

Michal Miller

Jada Roberson

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