AMHERST, N.Y. - The Daemen College women's basketball team will ring in the New Year in sunny south Florida this weekend. The Wildcats will square off against some of the top NAIA Division II programs in the nation during their time in the Sunshine State.
Daemen will face Valley City State University (Dec. 29) and Ave Maria University (Dec. 30) during the Ave Maria University Holiday Classic. Valley City State is ranked 17th among NAIA Division II programs, while AMU is receiving votes in the NAIA poll and is ranked second (behind Daemen) in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Division I poll.
The Wildcats will get to rest on Dec. 31, but return to the hardwood with games against St. Thomas University (Jan. 1) and Florida Memorial University (Jan. 2). St. Thomas is ranked 19th among NAIA Division II programs.
Daemen has been ranked No. 1 in the last four USCAA Division I polls. The new USCAA poll is unveiled Friday, Dec. 28.
The Wildcats are 7-3 over their last 10 games and improved to 13-4 overall after sweeping two games against Laurentian University last weekend.
Seniors
Chelsea Andorka (Canton, Ohio/Notre Dame College),
Ellie Allen (Amherst, N.Y./Sweet Home) and
Monica Kosior (Grimsby, Ont./Canisius College) have paced the Wildcats all season.
Andorka has scored in double figures in all but three games this year and leads the team in scoring (14.1 ppg) and assists (77). She also ranks second on the team in rebounding (7.3 rpg), steals (48) and blocks (21). Allen is averaging a steady 11.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. Kosior, who was named the USCAA Player of the Week earlier this year, is averaging 11.4 points and leads the team in rebounding (7.8 rpg) and blocks (41).
Junior point guard
Lindsay Stoddard (Limestone, N.Y./Allegany-Limestone) and senior guard
Samantha Stanfield (Brooklyn, N.Y./James Madison) have also produced. Stoddard has averaged 15.8 points over the past six games and is contributing a steady 10.6 points and 4.5 assists overall. The 5-foot-5 Stanfield is averaging 7.4 points and an impressive 6.8 rebounds per game (third on the team), and leads the team in steals (62).
Senior
Lia Zahn (Canandaigua, N.Y./Canandaigua) and freshman
Raeann Stilwell (Cheektowaga, N.Y./St. Mary's of Lancaster) have been consistent contributors off the bench. Zahn has 20 three pointers and is averaging 5.3 points. Stilwell is averaging 8.8 points and has drained a team-high 30 three-pointers. Junior
Jillian Fitzner (Hamburg, N.Y./Immaculata Academy) has seen consistent playing time over the past nine games and scored 12 points in a win over Penn State Worthington Scranton.
Daemen will be facing Valley City State, Ave Maria, St. Thomas and Florida Memorial for the first time in program history.
Valley City State, which is located in Valley City, N.D., has advanced to the NAIA Division II National Tournament last two seasons. The Vikings (10-1) bring a 10-game winning streak to Florida. VCSU will play Concordia University Friday (Dec. 28) before squaring off against Daemen. Junior forward Brittany Lehner has paced a balanced attack. She netted 20 points in an early-season win over Dordt College and is averaging 12.7 points and 4.0 rebounds. Additional production has come from senior guard Katelyn Ralston (9.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg), senior center Alyssa Hummel (6.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg) and senior forward Courtney Titus (6.7 ppg, 27 steals). The Vikings are averaging 72.8 points per game.
Ave Maria returns several key players from last year's team that posted a 29-5 record and advanced to the NAIA Division II National Tournament for the first time ever. The Lady Gyrenes (5-4) will be playing four games in four days during the tournament. Senior guard Emily Huber tops the list of returning players. An honorable mention NAIA All-America selection last year, she missed five games with a foot injury this year, but has averaged 18.3 points and 3.5 assists in the four games she has played. She drained five three-pointers and scored 32 points in a season-opening win over Montreat College. Senior forward Amy Myler totaled 17 points and 11 rebounds in a 69-58 win over NCAA Division II St. Leo and is averaging 11.4 points and 8.8 rebounds. Additional production has come from junior forward Erin Murphy (10.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg) and freshman guard Annie Artise (11.0 ppg, 7.6 rpg). The Lady Gyrenes are averaging 57.4 points per game.
St. Thomas (11-1) opened the year with 11-straight wins before suffered an 80-69 loss to third-ranked Morningside College on Dec. 19. The Bobcats will take part in the West Palm Beach Classic Dec. 28-29 before tipping off against Daemen on Jan. 1. Four players are averaging in double figures. Junior forward Dannisha Pierce scored 18 points in a win over Siena Heights and leads the team in scoring (15.8 ppg), rebounding (6.8 rpg) assists (36) and steals (42). Additional production has come from senior forward Constina Cousins (12.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 13 blocks), junior guard Berna Miranda (11.9 ppg, 2.8 apg) and senior guard Shanika Brooks (10.9 ppg, 31 3pt fgs). The Bobcats are averaging 77.2 points.
Florida Memorial dropped to 2-8 following a 65-47 loss to MidAmerica Nazarene on Dec. 19. Senior guard Dominique Jackson scored 15 points in the loss to MidAmerica Nazarene and is averaging 12.4 points and 6.1 rebounds. Additional production has come from junior guard Ty'Tetania McClenney (8.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 25 steals) and freshman guard Brittany Starling (8.0 ppg). The Lions are averaging 53.3 points per game.
