DETROIT (11-5-24) – The Detroit Mercy women's basketball team prepares for the 2024-25 season with an exhibition game against UM-Dearborn at Dick Vitale Court at Calihan Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 11 a.m. The game will be part of field trip day where the Titans will host students from multiple grade schools from the Metro Detroit area as a way to give back to the community.
 
Squad Breakdown: The Titans will take the floor this season with four returners and 11 newcomers totaling 15 student-athletes.
 
International Flavor: This year's squad features two student-athletes from two different countries in returners Maddie Diabate (France) and Latifa Amzil (Finland).
 
Where You From?
Michigan (7) – Maya Anderson, Jasmine Edwards, Myonna Hooper, Anna Lassan, Aaliyah McQueen, Emaia O'Brien, Alize Trip.
Indiana (3) – Katie Burton, Chanteese Craig, Addisen Mastriano
Illinois (1) – Kailey Starks
Virginia (1) – Makayla Jackson
Texas (1) – Amaria Fields
France (1) – Maddie Diabate
Finland (1) – Latifa Amzil
 
What a Season it Was: After building a solid foundation during her first season, Head Coach Kate Achter (OCK-terr) begins her third season after leading an epic program turnaround during the 2023-24 campaign.
 
In just her second season, Achter completely transformed the program leading Detroit Mercy to a 17-16 (9-11 HL) record during the 2023-24 campaign, marking the first winning season since the 2016-17 season. The 12-win improvement over last year was the biggest turnaround in school history and one of the tops in the nation as the Titans won just 19 total games the previous six years combined. UDM's nine #HLWBB wins were also the most since the 2016-17 season, including wins over 2023-24 #HLWBB Regular Season champion Cleveland State and third-place finisher Purdue Fort Wayne.
 
Additional 2023-24 Season Milestones:
• No. 6 seed Detroit Mercy's 59-48 first-round win over No. 11 seed RMU was their first #HLWBB Championship first-round victory since the 2016-17 season.
• The Titans finished non-conference play with a 7-4 record for the first time in 31 years since the 1991-92 season including wins over Midwest programs in Bellarmine, Dayton, Eastern Michigan, and Western Michigan.
• Detroit Mercy went 11-5 to start the season for the first time in over two decades since the 1999-00 season. During that season, the Titans started 15-4 and ended 18-9 overall and 9-5 in MCC (Mid-Western Collegiate Conference) play.
• During the week of Jan. 29, UDM received two votes in the 2023-24 College Insider.com Mid-Major Poll for the first time since the 2012-13 season.
• UDM's win over CSU snapped a six-game skid against the Vikings.
• The Titans' win over Milwaukee snapped an 11-game skid against the Panthers.
• UDM's win over PFW snapped a five-game skid against the Mastodons.
• Detroit Mercy's win over Northern Kentucky snapped a 13-game skid against the Norse.
• The victory over arch-rival Oakland snapped a 12-game skid against the Golden Grizzlies and was the Titans' first #MetroSeries win since 2017.
• UDM's win at Youngstown State snapped a 10-game skid against the Penguins and marked the first time the Titans won a #HLWBB opener since the 2016-17 season when they defeated Valparaiso 85-60 on Dec. 29, 2016.
• The Titans' over WMU snapped a seven-game skid against the Broncos.
• The win over USC Upstate was the first time since the 2001-02 season UDM started with a 4-2 record and marked the first time the Titans won two consecutive games since the 2016-17 season.
• UDM's win at Dayton moved marked the first time since the 2010-11 season the Titans started with a 3-2 record.
• The Titans 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 they
defeated Lourdes, IPFW and Madonna.
• 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.
• UDM's win over EMU snapped a four-game skid against the Eagles and 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 and was the Titans' first win over a Mid-American Conference (MAC) opponent since they defeated the Eagles, 77-64, on Dec. 6, 2016.
 
Sticking Around:
• After leading the historic turnaround last season, Head Coach Kate Achter agreed to a contract extension through the 2028-29 season.
 
Returning Starters (1):
Myonna Hooper - 2023-24 Highlights:
• Played in 32 games with 19 starts
• Led the team in assists (79), assists per game (2.5 – 15th HL), ranked second in 3-pointers (21), and tied for third in field goals made (82).
• Reached double figures seven times
• Had nine points on 4-of-8 shooting in UDM's win over RMU (3/5) which marked the first #HLWBB championship first-round win since the 2016-17 season.
• Reached double figures for the first time since the Florida A&M game with 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting vs IUPUI (2/29).
• With time winding down, she took the inbound pass, took off, and sunk a half-court shot as time expired to end the half at Green Bay (2/24).
 
Other Returners (3):
Makayla Jackson - 2023-24 Highlights:
• Saw action in 33 games
• Had third-best performance of the season scoring a team-high nine points on 3-of-7 shooting with a 3-pointer at Green Bay (2/24).
• Recorded 10 points (just missing her career-high by two points) on 4-for-6 shooting with three rebounds and two steals coming off the bench at RMU (1/24).
• Chipped in with five points helping UDM snap a 13-game skid vs NKU (1/1).
• Averaged 9.0 ppg., 2.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 8-for-16 (50.0%) from the field with two blocks to lead Detroit Mercy to a 1-1 record at MSU and Dayton.
• Had a break-out game scoring in double figures for the first time with a career-high 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting with a 3-pointer and two assists at Dayton (11/18).
 
Latifa Amzil - 2023-24 Highlights:
• Saw action in 17 games
• Came off the bench in the fourth quarter scoring five points with a triple. vs RMU (2/8).
• Had five points going 2-for-2 from the field with a 3-pointer with two rebounds and an assist at Oakland (1/13).
• Connected on a 3-point bucket and had a steal at MSU (12/16).
• Grabbed seven boards vs Georgia Southern (11/25).
• Provided the second-quarter spark the Titans needed as she was perfect scoring 16 points on 6-for-6 shooting from the field, 3-for-3 from 3-point range, and 1-for-1 from the free throw line. vs USC Upstate (11/24).
• Scored first points in a Titan uniform with four while going 2-for-2 at the free throw line and grabbing two boards vs Chicago State (11/10).
 
Maddie Diabate - 2023-24 Highlights:
• Saw action in seven games before suffering a season-ending injury
• Posted five points with a board at Georgia Southern (11/25).
• Posted three points with four boards vs USC Upstate (12/24).
• Grabbed a steal and rebound at MSU (11/16).
• Grabbed three boards with a steal in home opening win vs Chicago State (11/10).
• Played two minutes with one rebound in Titan debut and season-opening win at EMU (11/6).

Newcomers (11):
These newcomers will look to make an immediate impact.
 
0 Emaia O'Brien G - Gr. Detroit, Mich./Chandler Park Academy (Long Island)
Highlights:
• Scored 628 career points at Long Island starting in 45 of 70 games played
• Named NEC Player of the Week (3/8/24)
• Named 2021-22 NEC Rookie of the Year
• Seven-time NEC Rookie of the Week (Nov. 16, Nov. 29, Dec. 20, Jan. 19, Feb. 14, Feb. 21, Feb. 28)
• Three-time NEC Winter and Spring Academic Honor Roll
 
1 Aaliyah McQueen G - 5th-Sr. Flint, Mich./Carman-Ainsworth (Madonna)
2023-24 (Madonna):
• Started in 20 of 24 games played
• Named All Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) First-Team.
• Led the team in scoring (19.1 ppg - 3rd WHAC), rebounds per game (8.8 - 7th WHAC) steals per game (3.0 - 1st WHAC), and blocks per game (1.0 - T10th WHAC).
• Posted a season-high and career-best 41 points on 17-of-31 shooting from the field going 3-for-6 from 3-point range and 4-for-4 from the free throw line while grabbing 23 rebounds with four assists, three blocks, and three steals at Cleary (2/21).
• Also recorded season-highs in free throws made (10) at Lourdes (1/5), steals (7) vs Cleary (1/13), and 3-pointers (4) at Northwestern Ohio (1/31).
 
3 Anna Lassan G/F - Fr. South Lyon, Mich./South Lyon East
High School
• Four-year letter winner for Head Coach Robert Leadley
• Also was a four-year letter in softball and one year in golf.
• All-State Honorable Mention, Detroit Free Press and Detroit News All-North First Team, All-Lakes Valley Conference, Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM) Best Division I Honorable Mention and Hometown Life All-Area First Team selection as a junior.
• Set school single game rebound record with 22 as a junior
• Posted career-high 28 points twice as a junior and sophomore
• All-North Third Team selection as a sophomore
• Helped lead South Lyon East to win two Lakes Valley Conference titles
 
5 Maya Anderson G - Fr. Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech
High School
• Three-time All-City Team selection (2021, 22, 23)
• All-Public School League (PSL) selection
• Helped Cass Tech win three games in 2023 Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) playoffs
• National Honor Society and Big Brother and Bid Sister Member
• Played for UTS Elite for six years
 
11 Alize Tripp G - Sr. Jackson, Mich.
Michigan Center (Spring Arbor)
• Started in 56 of 57 games, scored 859 career points with 195 rebounds and 167 assists while averaging 15.1 ppg, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game in two seasons at Spring Arbor.
• Started in all 30 games played scoring 523 points
• Crossroads League First-Team selection
• Led the team in assists (89), assists per game (3.0), 3-pointers (69), 3-pointers made per game (2.3), 3-point percentage (38.5%), and free throw percentage (90.7).
• Ranked second in scoring (17.4 ppg - 4th CL), field goals made (178), field goal percentage (42.1%), and free throws (98).
• Posted 14 20-point performances and two 30-point games, including a career-high 36-point effort to lead SAU to a win over then No. 14 ranked Rio Grande 12/30.
• Added career-high 11 assists vs Olivet Nazarene (11/11), six 3-pointers at Huntington (1/13), and 11 field goals at Taylor (1/6).
 
13 Amaria Fields G - Sr. McKinney, Tex./McKinney North (Boston College)
High School:
• Ranked 128th nationally by Blue Star Basketball and rated the No. 44 prospect at guard in the class of 2021 by Dan Olson Collegiate Report.
• Also ranked among the Dallas area's leading scorers averaging 20.5 ppg, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game.
• Reached double-figures in 65 of her 82 career games played and scored the most 10, 20 and 30-point games in school history.
• Two-time all-district selection
• Named District 10 Player of the Year helping McKinney North to a 20-9 record and share of the district title as a junior.
• Also posted a season and career-high of 39 points against Maypearl HS and finished seventh in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex in scoring during junior campaign.
• Finished in the top 10 in scoring in the Dallas area and became the first player in school history to average over 20 points per game as a sophomore.
 
20 Kailey Starks G - Fr. Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township
High School:
• Four-year letter winner for Head Coach Brittanny Johnson
• Scored 1115 career points
• AP All-State Honorable Mention, Third-Team All-State Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA), All-Conference and Peak Performer selection as a senior.
• Scored 600 points and averaged 20.0 ppg and 13.0 rebounds per game during senior campaign.
• Also named All-Conference and Peak Performer selection as a junior.
• Helped lead Evanston to back-to-back conference championships as a sophomore and junior
• Three-year all-defensive team selection
• Played for Full Package Club Team for five years helping the team win multiple championships
 
23 Jasmine Edwards F – Gr. Westland, Mich./Haines City (Warner)
2023-24 (Warner):
• Saw action in nine games averaging 20.4 ppg
• Pulled down 11.1 rebounds per game
• Scored 864 career points in three seasons with the Royals
 
33 Katie Burton G - Sr. Fishers, Ind./Fisher (Buffalo)
Highlights:
• Saw action in 14 games as a freshman averaging 5.0 minutes and 1.4 points in her first year at St. John's
• Shot 53.3 percent from the floor and 42.9 percent from the charity stripe
• Three-time Hoosier Crossroads All-Conference First Team selection and three-time Hamilton County All-Conference First Team honoree.
• Named to the 2020 Indiana Junior All-Star Core Team after averaging 15.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game as a junior.
• Helped lift the Fisher to a 23-2 record, including a perfect 7-0 mark in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference to finish first in the league
• Poured in 13.8 points and grabbed nearly four boards per contest en route to 2019 All-State Honorable Mention as a sophomore.
 
34 Chanteese Craig F - Sr. Fort Wayne, Ind./Concordia Lutheran (Buffalo)
Wabash Valley:
• Started in 31 of 32 games played
• Great Rivers Athletic Conference (GRAC) All-Conference and All-Region selection.
• Averaged 11.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, playing 19.0 minutes per contest, while shooting 61.7% from the floor as a sophomore.
• Also averaged 25.0 points per 40 minutes.
• Helped lead Wabash to a 31-2 overall record, seventh straight National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Midwest District tournament championship, and a NJCAA Division I national tournament appearance.
• Scored in double figures in 21 of 32 games, including a career-high 24 points in a 35-point win over Rend Lake.
• Recorded six double-doubles on the year and ranked seventh in all of NJCAA in field goal percentage (61.7).
 
41 Addisen Mastriano F - Fr. Richmond, Ind./Northeastern
High School:
• Four-year letter winner for Head Coach Cody Dudley
• Also three-year letter winner in track and field and one year in volleyball
• Three-time Tri-Eastern Conference (TEC) All-Conference selection (2021, 22, 23).
• Three-time Prep Hoops All-Sectional Team selection (2022, 23, 24).
• Named team MVP in 2022 and 2023 and Team Most Improved in 2021
• Helped lead Northeastern to three Wayne County Titles (2021, 22, 23) and a TEC championship in 2021.
• Averaged 12 ppg, eight rebounds per game, 1.1 rebounds per game, and 2.0 blocks per game record as a junior.
• Set school season blocks record in 2023 and 2024.
 
Coaching Staff Promotions: Assistant Coach Kiefer Haffey was promoted to Associate Head Coach and Co-Recruiting Coordinator while Assistant Coaches Juanita Cochran and Andrea Cecil were elevated to Co-Recruiting Coordinator and Director of Player Development respectively.
 
Capaldi Joins the Staff: Antonio Capaldi joined the staff as an Assistant Coach will assist in player development and comes to the Titans after spending two seasons as an Assistant Coach on the women's basketball staff at Alma College in Michigan.
 
In his tenure at Alma, Capaldi aided in the development of three All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) selections in Taylor Sas (First Team and Second Team) and Brooke LeRoux (Second Team).
 
During the 2023-24 campaign, Capaldi helped lead the Scots to a 9-7 MIAA mark and 13-13 overall record with historic wins over two ranks opponents in No. 4 Hope College and No. 21 Wittenberg University for the first time since 1993.
 
Before Alma, Capaldi was an Assistant Coach with the Concordia (Mich.) women's basketball staff under then-Head Coach Haffey.
 
2024-25 #HLWBB Preseason Poll: Detroit Mercy was picked to finish eight in the 2024-25 Under Armour #HLWBB Preseason Poll with 39 points as voted on by each member institution's Head Coach and announced by the league office.