DETROIT (11/9/23) – Fresh off their dominating season-opening road win at Eastern Michigan, the Detroit Mercy women's basketball team will tip off for the home opener against Chicago State on Friday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast live from Dick Vitale Court at Calihan Hall on ESPN+ with Denny Kapp and Tara Fleming on the call.
 
UDM will then open a six-game road swing at former Horizon League member Butler on Sunday, Nov. 12 at 5 p.m. with the game being broadcast live from Hinkle Fieldhouse on FloHoops for paid subscriptions only.
 
Notes:
Scouting the Bulldogs: Butler lost the season opener at Iowa State and finished the 2022-23 regular season 11-19 overall and 6-14 in BIG EAST play under the direction of former IUPUI Head Coach Austin Parkin. The Bulldogs are led by junior forward Sydney Jaynes who led the team in rebounds (127, 4.2 rpg) and blocks (26, 0.9 bpg) while ranking second in points (9.8 ppg) last season. Butler was picked to finish eighth in the 2023-24 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll.
 
All-Time Series: Detroit Mercy leads the all-time series 35-28 with Butler winning the last meeting 82-60 on Nov. 13, 2019 after the Bulldogs left the Horizon League. UDM's last win was a 75-52 road decision on Mar. 1, 2012.

A Look at the Cougars: Chicago State finished the 2022-23 regular season at 6-22 overall. The Cougars are led by senior guard Tae'lor Willard who averaged 10.9 ppg, 3.0 rebounds per game and 1.5 assists per game.
 
All-Time Series: Detroit Mercy leads the all-time series 3-1. It has been over 10 years since the two schools have met when the Titans secured an 85-64 win on Dec. 7, 2013.
 
Last Time Out: Titans Tame Cougars in Home Opener
Game 2: Detroit Mercy 83 vs Chicago State 48 (11/10/23)
For the second consecutive game, Detroit Mercy delivered a dominating offensive and defensive performance to roll past Chicago State, 83-48, in home-opening action on Friday night at Calihan Hall. Sophomore Myonna Hooper matched a career-high with 15 points on 5-of-11 shooting and 3-for-5 from 3-point range with three assists. Graduate student Imani McNeal added 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting with three steals while sophomore Amaya Burch also had 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting with three helpers to round out the three players in double figures.

Titans Smash Eagles in Season-Opening Road Win
Game 1: Detroit Mercy 68 at Eastern Michigan 38 (11/6/23)
Detroit Mercy delivered a dominating performance on both sides of the ball with efficient offense and suffocating defense en route to a 68-38 thumping over in-state rival Eastern Michigan to tip off the 2023-24 season on Monday night at the George Gervin GameAbove Center. The Titans had four players in double figures
 
A Win Would…
• A win over Butler would mark the first time Detroit Mercy started 3-0 since the 2010-11 season when the Titans defeated Oakland, Ball State and Western Michigan.
• It would mark the first win over a school from the BIG EAST since the Titans defeated Syracuse on Dec. 30, 1993.
 
It's Been Awhile:
• Detroit's Mercy's win over Chicago State moved the Titans to 2-0 to start the season for the first time since the 2010-11 season.
• The Titans have won both games by a 30-point and 35-point margin. The last time the UDM posted back-to-back 30-point wins was during the 2012-13 season when defeated Lourdes, IPFW and Madonna.
• UDM's win over EMU snapped a four-game skid against the Eagles
• The win also marked the Titans' first season-opening win since the 2018-19 season
• Additionally, it was UDM's first season-opening road win since the 2016-17 season
• It also was the Titans' first win over a Mid-American Conference (MAC) opponent since the Titans defeated the Eagles, 77-64, on Dec. 6, 2016.
 
Suffocating Defense:
• The Titans' lock-down defense held Chicago State to 17-for-60 (28.3%) from the field.
• They also held the EMU to only seven points in the first quarter and nine points in the fourth and 14-for-56 (25.0%) shooting overall.
 
Guard the Arc:
• The Titans held the Cougars to just 1-for-14 from 3-point range and EMU to just 2-of-15 (13.3%) from behind the arc.
• Over the last two games, both teams shot a combined 3-for-29 (10.3%) from beyond the arc against the Titans' perimeter defense.
 
Hit the Boards:
• The Titans grabbed 54 rebounds with 23 against Chicago State
• UDM grabbed 51 total rebounds with 17 offensive boards that led to 13 second-chance points.
 
Down Low Dominance:
• UDM scored 50 of its 83 points in the paint against Chicago while posting 34 of 68 points in the paint at EMU.
 
Give Me That:
• The Titans grabbed 14 steals against CSU and eight at EMU.
 
Zone Busters:
• Detroit Mercy took advantage of EMU's zone by shooting a blistering 9-for-20 (45.0%) from 3-point range and 28-for-60 (46.7%) from the field.
 
Double-Double Tandem:
• Junior Emma Trawally Porta had 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting with 11 rebounds and three blocks
• Senior Irene Murua added 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting with 10 boards.
 
Freshman Phenom:
• Freshman Paris Gilmore had quite the collegiate debut scoring a team-best 13 points on 3-of-7 from 3-point range.
 
Helping out:
• Graduate Student Imani added 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting and 2-for-3 from long range with five assists and two steals.
• Sophomore Amaya Burch chipped in with nine points on 2-for-3 shooting from behind the arc.
 
Field Trip Day!!
Exhibition: Detroit Mercy 82 vs Lake Erie 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.).
 
Time for some MACTION: Monday's season-opener at EMU was 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).
 
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 ranked 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.