DETROIT (11/5/23) – The Detroit Mercy women's basketball team opens the 2023-24 season at instate rival Eastern Michigan on Monday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast live from the George Gervin GameAbove Center on ESPN+ with Brent Balbinot on the call.
Notes:
A Look at the Eagles: Eastern Michigan finished the regular season 15-15 overall and 7-11 in Mid-American Conference (MAC) play. The Eagles are led by junior guard and pre-season All-MAC Second Team selection Lachelle Austin who averaged 12.5 ppg, 4.3 rebounds per game and 3.0 assists per game while leading the team in free throws (67) and assists (87) and ranking seventh in the conference in steals (54) last season. EMU was picked to finish seventh in the 2023-24 MAC Preseason Poll.
All-Time Series: The series between Detroit Mercy and Eastern Michigan is tied 15-15. The Eagles have won the last four consecutive meetings including a 76-66 decision on Nov. 13, 2021. The Titans' last win against EMU was a 77-64 road decision on Dec. 6, 2016.
Time for some MACTION: The game against EMU is the first of three MAC opponents on Detroit Mercy's schedule. The Titans play at Western Michigan (Dec. 6) followed by at Northern Illinois (Dec. 10).
Familiar Face, Familiar Place: Current EMU Assistant Coach Ke'Sha Blanton also served as an Assistant Coach at Detroit Mercy from 2012-18 where she helped the Titans to a Horizon League Championship game appearance and 18-14 overall record during the 2016-17 season. Blanton also served as defensive coordinator, helping the Titans go from the bottom of the league to the top in field goal and 3-point field goal percentage against. In 2014-15, Blanton played a major role in the recruitment of Darianne Seward, who went on to garner Horizon League All-Freshman Team honors that same year.
In her first year at Detroit Mercy in 2012-13, she worked with the Horizon League preseason Player of the Year and three-time all-conference performer Rosie Reynolds, the school's first student-athlete to post 1,000-plus points, 500-plus assists, and 600-plus rebounds. Blanton also helped the team to a Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) tournament title as the top seed in the East Region in addition to three student-athletes earning All-Horizon League honors.
Field Trip Day!!
Detroit Mercy 82 vs Davenport 32 (11/1/23)
In perpetration for the season, Detroit Mercy hosted Lake Erie College in an exhibition game that was part of Field Trip Day where the Titans welcomed student from multiple grade schools from the Metro Detroit area. UDM had four players in double figures in
Amaya Burch (16 pts.),
Emma Trawally Porta (11 pts.),
Paris Gilmore (11 pts.) and
Makayla Jackson (10 pts.).
Squad Breakdown: The Titans will take the floor this season with seven returners and eight newcomers for a total of 15 student-athletes.
Murua Name to 2023-24 #HLWBB Preseason All-League Second Team:
Senior forward
Irene Murua was named to the 2023-24 #HLWBB Preseason All-League Second Team.
Returning Starters (6):
Murua - 2022-23 Highlights:
• Started in all 30 games
• Led the team in scoring (12.1 – 15th HL); led the HL in offensive rebounds per game (3.3) while ranking third in field goal percentage (51.7%); also ranked fourth in HL in rebounds per game (8.1).
• Led the Titans in field goals (152), steals (3) steals per game (1.1)
• Also led the team with six double-doubles while reaching double figures a team-best 21 times
• Grabbed double-digit rebounds in 10 games with a career-high 17 at North Dakota.
• Poured in a career-high 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting and a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line just missing a double-double with nine rebounds at Oakland (2/20).
Imani McNeal - 2022-23 Highlights:
• Started in 19 of 25 games played
• Named to the 2022-23 College Sports Communicators Academic (CSC) Academic All-District® NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Team
• Led team and ranked third in HL in free throw percentage (83.1). Ranked second on the team in points per game (9.9) and steals (24).
• Scored a team-high 16 points on 7-for-15 shooting and 2-for-3 from 3-point range with four rebounds while matching a season-best four assists at PFW (2/28).
• Scored in double figures 12 times including seven of the last nine games after returning from injury against CSU (1/26).
• Poured in a career-high 23 points on 6-of-9 shooting while adding a career-best 11-for-12 from the free throw line vs Miami Hamilton (12/8).
Emma Trawally Porta - 2022-23 Highlights:
• Started in 24 of 28 games played
• Named to the 2022-23 College Sports Communicators Academic (CSC) Academic All-District® NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Team
• Led the HL and ranked 18th in the nation in blocks per game (2.2) and total blocks (62) which ranks 26th Nationally.
• Posted four or more blocks in nine games with a career-high six blocks at WSU (2/25) and five vs MKE (2/5).
• Scored in double figures 10 times with three career double-doubles and also led the team in field goal percentage (53.8)
• Grabbed double-digit rebounds in seven games
Amaya Burch - 2022-23 Highlights:
• Saw action in 28 games making 17 starts
• #HLWBB All-Freshman Team selection
• Scored in double-figures 12 times while grabbing 10 boards or more in three games.
• Tied for second on the team with three double-doubles.
• Led the team in 3-point field goals (29), ranked third in rebounds per game (4.7).
Myonna Hooper - 2022-23 Highlights:
• Saw action in all 30 games making 26 starts
• Led the team in assists (58) and assists per game (1.9).
• Reached double figures five times while grabbing a career-best seven rebounds four times.
• Dished out a career-best five assists in three games
Lucia Fleta Robles - 2022-23 Highlights:
• Saw action in all 30 games making 21 starts
• Ranked second on the team in assists (53) and assists per game (1.8) and third in 3-pointers (14).
• Reached double figures in five games.
• Had eight points with five rebounds and three assists in the Titans' first win in program history over IUPUI (2/16).
Other Returners (1):
Jada Moorehead - 2022-23 Highlights:
• Saw action in 28 games with three starts
• Scored seven points while grabbing a career-high eight rebounds in her double-double attempt vs Green Bay (2/3).
• Added five points going 3-for-4 from the free throw line in the Titans' first #HLWBB win of the season over RMU (1/7).
Newcomers (8):
These newcomers will look to make an immediate impact.
2
Makayla Jackson G - Alexandria, Va./Bullis School
3
Jaida Hampton Gr. - G Lansing, Mich./East Lansing (SIUE)
10
Paris Gilmore Fr. G - Youngstown, Ohio/Warrensville Heights
11
Cyd Rivera Gr. G - Woodside, NY / Lutheran High North (Pepperdine)
12
Maddie Diabate Jr. G - Paris, France / Long Island Lutheran (Georgia Highlands)
13
Annika Corcoran R-Sr. G - Chardon, Ohio/Gilmour Academy (Akron)
21
Latifa Amzil Jr. F - Helsinki, Finland/Mäkelänrinne SH (Chipola College)
24
Kamari Forrest Fr. G - Saginaw, Mich./Saginaw
Spanish Conniction: This year's squad features three student-athletes from Spain consisting of three returners in seniors
Irene Murua and
Lucia Fleta Robles and junior
Emma Trawally Porta.
Where You From?
Michigan (4) –
Myonna Hooper,
Jada Moorehead,
Kamari Forrest,
Jaida Hampton
Ohio (2) –
Annika Corcoran,
Paris Gilmore
Georgia (1) –
Imani McNeal
New York (1) –
Cyd Rivera
New Jersey (1) –
Amaya Burch
Virginia (1) –
Makayla Jackson
Spain (3) –
Irene Murua,
Lucia Fleta Robles,
Emma Trawally Porta
France (1) –
Maddie Diabate
Finland (1) –
Latifa Amzil
Achter Era Continues: Head Coach
Kate Achter (OCK-terr) begins her second season after building a solid foundation during her first season. Under Achter's guidance during the 2022-23 campaign, the women's hoops squad increased their win total by four games beginning with a win over Canisius which snapped a 24-game home court losing skid. The Titans also secured a series sweep over Robert Morris in #HLWBB play and also upset defending league champion IUPUI for the first time in program history. Additionally,
Amaya Burch (the coaching staff's first recruit) earned All-Freshman Team honors after scoring in double-figures 12 times while grabbing 10 boards or more in three games. She also led the team in 3-pointers made (29) while ranking second with three double-doubles and third in rebounds per game (4.7).
Coaching Staff Promotions: Nicole "Colie" Shelwick was promoted to Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator while
Andrea Cecil was promoted to Assistant Coach.
2023-24 Horizon League Preseason Poll: Detroit Mercy was picked to finish 10th in the 2023-24 Under Armour #HLWBB Preseason Poll as voted on by each member institution's Head Coach and announced by the league office.
