The Lakers are set to embark into a new era of LSSU women’s basketball under first year head coach Grace Howrigon who is looking forward to the challenge of rebuilding the program.
“I invite it, I welcome it, and I encourage it,” said Howrigon. “I know the young ladies that I have in that locker room. I’m fully aware of the abilities that they have, and I think that we are going to shock some people.”
The Laker roster is headlined by the All-GLIAC talent Grace Bradford (Maple City, Mich.) who averaged a double-double last season with 12.3 points and 10.9 rebounds per contest.
“[Bradford]'s an incredible basketball player, and a great teammate,” said Howrigon. “I’m really excited for her junior year.”
Also returning for the Lakers is a senior group of Taylor Stacy (Toledo, Ohio), CeCe Hacker (Omaha, Neb.), Jaden Wilder (Manton, Mich.), and Iara Navarro (Parana Entre Rios, Argentina), and LSSU will rely on their experience to lead the way.
LSSU also welcomes five new faces in first year players Taylor Clarey (Rochester, Minn.), Malia Thelen (Portland, Mich.), Katelyn Baney (Paw Paw, Mich.), and Lauren Wilder (Manton, Mich.) as well as sophomore DeDe Smith (Flint, Mich.) who already has a year of experience under her belt playing for Coach Howrigon at Lawrence Tech where she was named to the WHAC All-Freshman Team.
“[Smith]’s just tenacious,” said Howrigon. “She’s got that heart and that mentality that takes her to the next level.”
The Lakers will have to be road warriors to start the season with their first eight games of the season taking place outside of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. before their home opener against Illinois-Springfield on Dec. 19.
“We have to learn quickly that nothing is going to be handed to us. We are going to build some character, face some adversity, and we’re going to have to find a way to get through it.”
The Lakers are set to open up the 2024-25 campaign at Findlay on Friday, Nov. 8 with the first tipoff of the season scheduled for 3 p.m.
