The Wayne State University women's basketball squad enters the 2024-25 campaign with 10 returning letterwinners plus two others who have lettered in the past.
Last season, WSU compiled a 16-12 overall mark, along with a 9-9 GLIAC ledger. The Warriors dropped their final five contests, including the final three games by a combined 14 points.
Head coach Carrie Lohr starts her 14th season guiding Wayne State, after garnering her 200th win at WSU with a 71-46 triumph over Findlay on Dec. 19, 2023.
The Warriors return their top-three scorers from a year ago in Shea Tripp (13.4 PPG), Gabi Lutchka (12.1 PPG) and McKenna Ferguson (9.0 PPG). Tripp is a First Team All-GLIAC preseason choice this fall after earning First Team All-GLIAC recognition last spring. She led Wayne State in field goals (141), free throws (82), rebounds (190), assists (90) and steals (73) last season. Meanwhile, Lutchka was a Second Team All-GLIAC honoree in 2023-24 after recording 4.7 rebounds per contest and shooting 92 percent (33-of-36) from the charity stripe. Ferguson, one of the top newcomers in the league last year, totaled 84 foul shots, 47 steals and 37 assists.
Other returnees looking to make an impact include Taylor Thompson (6.3 PPG, 103 rebounds), Alyssa Leister (5.4 PPG), and Mackenzie Miller (4.8 PPG). The two newcomers are transfer Jaci Tubergen (Bowling Green) and freshman Koko Sylvester (Toledo, Ohio / Start).
For a third consecutive season, Lohr will be assisted on the bench by Andy Ayrault and Christina (Green) Duncan. Ayrault, a former men’s basketball standout who played in 116 career games from 1989-93 for the Tartars. Green also had a four-year career (2013-17) with WSU and played in 89 contests (35 starts) for coach Lohr. Green enters her sixth season on the staff and her fourth as one of the assistant coaches.
Wayne State begins the year by hosting eight of its first nine regular-season contests, including its first two GLIAC games in early December. The lone road trip is to former GLIAC member Hillsdale on Nov. 20. The home slate includes Malone (Nov. 8), Ashland (Nov. 10), Northwood (Nov. 14) and Tiffin (Nov. 23), all former GLIAC rivals who are now in the G-MAC.
After the GLIAC opening weekend vs. Davenport and Grand Valley State, the Warriors will conclude their non-conference schedule by entertaining Edinboro (Dec. 11) and Cedarville (Dec. 18) before visiting Findlay (Dec. 21). The final 18 games (all in 2025) will be league contests as the GLIAC schedule is now 20 games with the addition of Roosevelt University.
