Photo by: Joseph Craven
Women’s Basketball picked seventh in Horizon League Preseason Poll
10/18/2023 11:55:00 AM | Women's Basketball
INDIANAPOLIS — The Wright State women's basketball program was picked seventh in the 2023-24 Under Armour Horizon League preseason poll, the conference office announced Wednesday. The Raiders tallied 54 points in the poll, which the league's 11 head coaches voted on.
Green Bay (121) was projected to win the Horizon League after receiving all 11 first-place votes while defending conference champion Cleveland State was close behind in second with 107 points. Youngstown State (95), Purdue Fort Wayne (90), Northern Kentucky (63), and Milwaukee (59) rounded out the top five spots in the poll.
Milwaukee edged Wright State for sixth with 59 points, followed by Oakland (53), IUPUI (49), Detroit Mercy (21), and Robert Morris (14) in the bottom four spots.
Wright State is under the direction of third-year head coach Kari Hoffman, who guided the 2022-23 Raiders to a four-win improvement, a Horizon League Championship quarterfinals appearance, and a 6-5 record over the program's last 11 games.
WSU proved to be one of the nation's most prolific long-distance shooting teams last season, as the Raiders ranked second nationally in 3-point makes per game (10.1) and 22nd in 3-point percentage (.364). Wright State netted a school record 323 threes while also shattering a single-game school record with 18 3-pointers versus Cleveland State (1/20/23).
The Raiders return five letterwinners from a year ago, anchored by starting guard Kacee Baumhower (9.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.3 apg) and starting forward Cara VanKempen (6.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg). The duo is joined by Horizon League All-Freshman Team recipient Makiya Miller (5.9 ppg, 1.5 apg), Lauren Scott (4.8 ppg), and Rachel Loobie (2.6 ppg, 2.7 rpg).
Wright State has bolstered its depth with seven newcomers on the squad, including upperclassmen transfers Jada Tate (Tiffin), Alexis Hutchison (Malone), Layne Ferrell (Akron), and Julia Hoefling (Loyola Chicago). The Raiders also added sophomore transfer Claire Henson (Long Island) and freshmen guards Rylee Sagester and Ellie Magestro-Kennedy.
The Raiders open their regular season on November 6 at Southern Indiana, followed by a road test at Michigan State on November 12. The 2023-24 campaign will feature 12 regular season games at the Nutter Center, starting with Mount Vernon Nazarene for the team's home opener on November 14.
2023-24 Under Armour #HLWBB Preseason Poll
Pl. Team – Pts. (First-place votes)
1. Green Bay (11) – 121
2. Cleveland State – 107
3. Youngstown State – 95
4. Purdue Fort Wayne – 90
5. Northern Kentucky – 63
6. Milwaukee – 59
7. Wright State – 54
8. Oakland – 53
9. IUPUI – 49
10. Detroit Mercy – 21
11. RMU – 14
#HLWBB Preseason Player of the Year
Destiny Leo, Cleveland State
Preseason All-League First Team (alphabetical order by school)
Destiny Leo, Cleveland State
Bailey Butler, Green Bay
Jazmyn Turner, IUPUI
Brooke Quarles-Daniels, Oakland
Amellia Bromenschenkel, PFW
Preseason All-League Second Team (alphabetical order by school)
Irene Murua, Detroit Mercy
Kendall Nead, Milwaukee
Kailee Davis, Northern Kentucky
Shayla Sellers, Purdue Fort Wayne
Malia Magestro, Youngstown State
Green Bay (121) was projected to win the Horizon League after receiving all 11 first-place votes while defending conference champion Cleveland State was close behind in second with 107 points. Youngstown State (95), Purdue Fort Wayne (90), Northern Kentucky (63), and Milwaukee (59) rounded out the top five spots in the poll.
Milwaukee edged Wright State for sixth with 59 points, followed by Oakland (53), IUPUI (49), Detroit Mercy (21), and Robert Morris (14) in the bottom four spots.
Wright State is under the direction of third-year head coach Kari Hoffman, who guided the 2022-23 Raiders to a four-win improvement, a Horizon League Championship quarterfinals appearance, and a 6-5 record over the program's last 11 games.
WSU proved to be one of the nation's most prolific long-distance shooting teams last season, as the Raiders ranked second nationally in 3-point makes per game (10.1) and 22nd in 3-point percentage (.364). Wright State netted a school record 323 threes while also shattering a single-game school record with 18 3-pointers versus Cleveland State (1/20/23).
The Raiders return five letterwinners from a year ago, anchored by starting guard Kacee Baumhower (9.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.3 apg) and starting forward Cara VanKempen (6.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg). The duo is joined by Horizon League All-Freshman Team recipient Makiya Miller (5.9 ppg, 1.5 apg), Lauren Scott (4.8 ppg), and Rachel Loobie (2.6 ppg, 2.7 rpg).
Wright State has bolstered its depth with seven newcomers on the squad, including upperclassmen transfers Jada Tate (Tiffin), Alexis Hutchison (Malone), Layne Ferrell (Akron), and Julia Hoefling (Loyola Chicago). The Raiders also added sophomore transfer Claire Henson (Long Island) and freshmen guards Rylee Sagester and Ellie Magestro-Kennedy.
The Raiders open their regular season on November 6 at Southern Indiana, followed by a road test at Michigan State on November 12. The 2023-24 campaign will feature 12 regular season games at the Nutter Center, starting with Mount Vernon Nazarene for the team's home opener on November 14.
2023-24 Under Armour #HLWBB Preseason Poll
Pl. Team – Pts. (First-place votes)
1. Green Bay (11) – 121
2. Cleveland State – 107
3. Youngstown State – 95
4. Purdue Fort Wayne – 90
5. Northern Kentucky – 63
6. Milwaukee – 59
7. Wright State – 54
8. Oakland – 53
9. IUPUI – 49
10. Detroit Mercy – 21
11. RMU – 14
#HLWBB Preseason Player of the Year
Destiny Leo, Cleveland State
Preseason All-League First Team (alphabetical order by school)
Destiny Leo, Cleveland State
Bailey Butler, Green Bay
Jazmyn Turner, IUPUI
Brooke Quarles-Daniels, Oakland
Amellia Bromenschenkel, PFW
Preseason All-League Second Team (alphabetical order by school)
Irene Murua, Detroit Mercy
Kendall Nead, Milwaukee
Kailee Davis, Northern Kentucky
Shayla Sellers, Purdue Fort Wayne
Malia Magestro, Youngstown State
Players Mentioned
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