DETROIT (12-3-24) – Fresh off defeating Eastern Michigan for the second straight year, the Detroit Mercy women's basketball team opens Horizon League play on Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. for Faculty & Staff Appreciation/Hometown Heroes night. The game will be broadcast live from Dick Vitale Court at Calihan Hall on ESPN+ with Denny Kapp (play-by-play) and Tara Fricke (analyst) on the call.
 
A Look at the Raiders:
• Wright State is 2-4 on the season following a 66-65 setback against Findlay.
• The Raiders finished the 2023-24 season 1815 overall and 11-9 in HL play.
• Junior guard Claire Henson leads the team in scoring (12.1 ppg).
• Graduate student Amaya Staton leads the team in rebounds per game (8.9).
• Sophomore guard Olivia Brown leads the squad in assists per game (2.6).
 
All-Time Series:
• Wright State leads the all-time series 38-28 and has won 14 consecutive meetings.
 
A win would…
• Snap a 14-game skid against WSU and give the Titans their first win over the Raiders since a 71-52 decision in the #HLWBB Tournament on Mar. 6, 2017.
• Give the Titans their first 5-1 record to start the season in 39 years since the 1985-88 season.
 
WSU Rewind:
Mar. 2, 2024 - Detroit Mercy 56 vs Wright State 66:
Senior Irene Murua picked up where she left on Thursday night scoring in double figures for the second consecutive game with a team-high 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting and 5-of-6 from the free throw line while grabbing 13 rebounds to secure her fifth double-double of the season as Detroit Mercy battled but came up short with a 66-56 setback to Wright State on Senior Day on Saturday afternoon at Calihan Hall. Before the game, the Titans honored Imani McNeal, Jada Moorehead, Cyd Rivera, and Lucia Fleta Robles for their hard work and dedication to the program.
 
Last Time Out: Titans Clip Eagles Moving to 4-1 on the Season for the First Time in 38 Years
Game 5 - Detroit Mercy 72 vs Eastern Michigan 61 - Nov. 26, 2024:
For the first time in 38 years since the 1986-87 season, Detroit Mercy is 4-1 to start the season after a convincing 72-61 win over in-state rival Eastern Michigan on Tuesday night at Calihan Hall. Fifth-year senior Aaliyah McQueen posted a Titan career-high 19 points on 8-for-17 shooting while just missing a double-double with eight rebounds. With the win, the Titans also completed the season sweep of all three opponents from the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in EMU, Western Michigan, and Bowling Green.
 
Graduate Student Emaia O'Brien added 12 points on 5-for-10 shooting from the field with four assists and three steals. Sophomore Makayla Jackson was the third player in double figures with 10 points also shooting 5-for-10 from the field just missing her career-high of 12 points. Junior Myonna Hooper matched a career-best dishing out six assists with five boards.
 
Graduate Student Alize Tripp also added her Titan career-best with nine points, going 3-for-4 from 3-point range. Graduate Student Jasmine Edwards and freshman Kailey Starks each had six points while Maddie Diabate added four. Freshman Addisen Mastriano posted her first collegiate points with four and added two assists.
 
MACTION Clean SWEEP:
• With the win 72-61 over Eastern Michigan, the Titans also completed a 3-0 season sweep of all three opponents from the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in EMU, Western Michigan, and Bowling Green.
• The 73-66 season-opening win over BGSU (11/8) was the first, followed by a 72-63 victory over Western Michigan (11/23).
• Over the last two seasons, UDM is 5-1 over MAC foes.
• Last season, UDM went 2-1 against MAC competition, opening the season with a 68-38 win at Eastern Michigan (11/6) followed by a 62-59 victory at Western Michigan (12/6) and a 75-66 setback at Northern Illinois.
 
Mitten State Match-Ups:
• Detroit Mercy is 2-1 against teams from the state of Michigan.
• After falling to Michigan State (11/20), the Titans defeated Western Michigan (11/23) and Eastern Michigan (11/26).
• UDM has four remaining games against in-state opponents in Cleary (12/8), Michigan (12/14), and twice against Oakland (1/11 & 2/1).
 
Rack Up More Milestones:
• With the win 72-61 over Eastern Michigan, the Titans completed the 3-0 season sweep of all three opponents from the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in EMU, Western Michigan, and Bowling Green.
• The win also moved the Titans to 4-1 to begin the season for the first time in 38 years since the 1986-87 season.
• The victory also gave UDM its second consecutive win over EMU for the first time since the 2012-13 season.
• UDM's 73-62 win over Western Michigan marked the first time the Titans defeated the Broncos in consecutive games since the 2012-13 season.
• The Titans' win over BGSU snapped a 10-game skid against Head Coach Kate Achter's alma mater and was the first win over the Falcons since a 67-62 decision on Nov. 20, 2002.
 
I'll Take That:
• Detroit Mercy leads the Horizon League in steals per game (10.20).
• Individually, the Titans have three players ranked in the top 5 in the league in steals per game: Emaia O'Brien (2.0 – T-2nd), Kailey Starks (2.0 – T-2nd), and Aaliyah McQueen (2.0 – 5th).
 
From Way Downtown:
• In addition to the late fourth-quarter run, Detroit Mercy shot a season-best 10-for-17 (58.8%) from 3-point range, which proved to be the difference in their 72-69 win over the Broncos.
• McQueen ranks third in the HL in 3-point field goal percentage (48.1) and fifth in 3-pointers per game (1.5) followed by O'Brien (1.8).
 
Make Em' Count:
• The Titans rank sixth in the league in free throw percentage (68.7).
• Hooper ranks ninth individually in the HL (69.6), while Kailey Starks leads the team (85.7).
 
Crash the Boards:
• As a team, Detroit Mercy ranks second in the Horizon League in defensive rebounds per game (27.6), third in rebounds per game (37.4) and rebounding margin (4.4), and fifth in offensive rebounds per game (9.8).
• Two players rank in the HL top 11 in rebounds per game: Aaliyah McQueen (7.2 – 4th HL), and Jasmine Edwards (6.0 – 11th HL).
• Last season, Detroit Mercy led the Horizon League in rebounds per game (37.6), total rebounds (1242), defensive rebounds per game (27.3), and rebounding margin.
 
Q Making Quite the Impact:
• Fifth-year senior Aaliyah McQueen, known to the team as "Q", leads the team in scoring (14.6 – 6th HL), rebounds per game (7.2 – 4th HL), and 3-pointers made (11), and ranks second in steals (9), and steals per game (1.8).
• Posted a Titan career-high 19 points on 8-for-17 shooting with three assists and a steal, just missing a double-double with eight rebounds to lead Detroit Mercy to a 72-61 win over EMU (11/26).
• After scoring seven points at undefeated Michigan State, McQueen bounced back, scoring 15 points with 12 coming in the second half, going 5-for-7 from the field and 3-for-4 shooting from long-range helping Detroit Mercy to a 72-63 win over Western Michigan.
• Followed up her debut by scoring a team-high 16 points, shooting 4-for-9 from the field, 3-for-6 from 3-point range, and 5-for-6 from the free throw line with two assists while grabbing four rebounds and four steals defensively, helping the Titans hand Bellarmine their first loss of the season (11/16).
• Had a solid Titan debut posting a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds on 6-of-12 shooting and 3-for-6 from behind the arc with four assists in UDM's season-opening win over BGSU snapping a 10-game skid against the Falcons (11/8).
• She is the first player to post a double-double in her Titan debut since Ellisha Crosby had 15 points and 11 boards at Canisius in 2013.
 
Biggie Breaking Out:
• Graduate student and Detroit, Mich. native Emaia "Biggie" O'Brien ranks second on the team in scoring (11.2), 3-pointers made (9), 3-point field goals per game (1.8), and third in rebounds per game (3.8) in win over EMU (11/26).
• Added 12 points on 5-for-10 shooting from the field with four assists and three steals.
• Posted a team-high 18 points, going 4-for-6 from 3-point range and a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line in 72-63 win over WMU (11/3).
• Scored in double figures with 11 points, adding six rebounds, two assists, and two steals in UDM's win over Bellarmine (11/16).
• Had quite the homecoming as the third player in double figures with 12 points, going 2-for-6 from behind the arc in UDM's season-opening win over BGSU snapping a 10-game skid against the Falcons (11/8).
 
She's a Hooper:
• Junior guard Myonna Hooper leads the team in assists per game (3.2 - 5th HL), ranks third in scoring (10.4) and field goal percentage (47.1).
• Matched a career-best six assists in win over EMU (11/26).
• Came up clutch, scoring all eight of her points in the fourth quarter, including converting two-and-1 layups with ensuing free throw makes which sparked a late 16-4 Titan run in UDM's 73-63 win over WMU (11/23).
• After being named Under Armour® Horizon League Player of the Week last week, Hooper posted a team-high 16 points, going 4-for-5 from the free throw line in UDM's win over Bellarmine (11/16).
 
Hooper Named Under Armour® #HLWBB Player of the Week:
• Hooper was named Under Armour® Horizon League Player of the Week announced by the league office on Monday (11/11).
• The West Bloomfield, Mich. native, poured in a career-high 24 points on 7-for-9 shooting, 2-for-4 from 3-point range, and 8-for-11 from the free throw line, with four assists and two boards to lead Detroit Mercy to a solid 73-66 season-opening win over Bowling Green.
• UDM's win snapped a 10-game skid against Head Coach Kate Achter's alma mater and was the first win over the Falcons since a 67-62 decision on Nov. 20, 2002.
 
Edwards Doin' Work Down Low:
• Graduate student Jasmine Edwards has been a force in the paint as she ranks second on the team in rebounds (5.4 – 11th HL).
• Had a solid all-around game, just missing a double-double with nine points and eight rebounds with two assists, three steals, and two blocks defensively, helping Detroit Mercy to a 72-63 win over Western Michigan (11/23).
• Just missed a double-double with 11 rebounds and nine points, going 5-for-8 from the charity stripe in UDM's win over Bellarmine (11/16).
 
Jackson Adding Production:
• After seeing action in 33 games last season, sophomore Makalya Jackson has earned a spot in the starting lineup leading the team in field goal percentage (57.1) and blocks (3).
• Was the third player in double figures with 10 points, also shooting 5-for-10 from the field just missing her career-high of 12 points in win over EMU (11/26).
• Was one of four players in double-figures with 10 points going 4-for-5 from the free throw line while posting a career-high with four steals in UDM's win over Bellarmine (11/16).
• Chipped in with six points matching career-high with two steals and blocks in season-opening win over BGSU snapping a 10-game skid against the Falcons (11/8).
 
Starks with the Spark off the Bench:
• Freshman Kailey Starks is tied for the team lead in steals (10) and steals per game (2.0) coming off the bench.
• Averaged 11.0 ppg., with eight rebounds (4.0 rpg) and six steals (3.0 spg) while shooting a blistering 7-for-10 (70.0%) from the field and 8-for-10 (80%) from the free throw line to lead Detroit Mercy to a 1-1 record to against WMU and MSU.
• Posted her second consecutive impressive effort off the bench, scoring nine points while grabbing four boards with two assists and two steals, helping Detroit Mercy to a 72-63 win over Western Michigan (11/23).
• Had a solid breakout game against some tough competition, scoring a career and team-high 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the floor and 5-for-6 from the free throw line with a career-best four steals defensively coming off the bench at undefeated Michigan State.
 
Trippin' for Three:
• Graduate Student Alize Tripp posted her Titan career-best with nine points, going 3-for-4 from 3-point range in win over EMU (11/26).
• Tripp ranks third on the team in 3-pointers made (5).
 
Help is on the Way:
The Detroit Mercy women's basketball team has added newcomer Cameron McMaster as a part of the 2025-26 recruiting class, announced Head Coach Kate Achter.
 
Cameron McMaster (6-3) – F
Hometown: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
High School: Orangeville Prep Academy
 
Highlights:
• Three-year letter winner under Head Coach Greg Firth
• Named Orangeville Prep Academy Player of the Year (2023-24)
• Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association (OSBA) Second-Team All-Star selection (2023-24)
• Named to All-Canadian Games Future Stars (2023-2024)
• Helped Orangeville Prep earn a Gold Medal in the North American Indigenous Games (2023) and a Silver Medal in the OSBA Trillium (2023-24).
• Bronze Medalist for Team Alberta (2024)
• Averaged 18 ppg and eight rebounds per game as a junior
• Scored career-high 30 points against Bill Crothers
• Posted a triple-double against St. Francis High School
• Three-year member of the Calgary Basketball Academy and one-year member of Kia Nurse (EYCL & EYBL).

Sticking Around:
• After leading the historic turnaround last season, Head Coach Kate Achter agreed to a contract extension through the 2028-29 season.
 
Squad Breakdown: The Titans will take the floor this season with four returners and 10 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
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.
• With the 64-59 win over IUPUI, Detroit Mercy recorded their 16th regular season, which is the highest win total since the 2016-17 season. The win also earned the No. 6 seed in the 2024 Barbasol #HLWBB Championship, which is the highest seed since the Titans were a No. 3 seed in the 2017 HL Tournament and advanced to the championship game against Green Bay.
• 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.
• UDM's win over RMU (2/8) completed the series sweep over the Colonials for the second consecutive season.
• 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.
 
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.
 
Season Rewind:
Titans Buck Broncos Behind Late Fourth Quarter Run
Game 4 - Detroit Mercy 72 vs Western Michigan 63 - Nov. 23, 2024:
With Detroit Mercy trailing 53-52 and 6:11 remaining in the fourth quarter, UDM went on a 16-4 run to close out Western Michigan, securing a 72-63 win to stay unbeaten at Calihan Hall on Saturday afternoon. After going scoreless in the first half, junior Myonna Hooper came up clutch, scoring all eight of her points in the fourth quarter, including converting two-and-1 layups with ensuing free throw makes to spark the Titan run. In addition to the late run, Detroit Mercy (3-1) shot a season-best 10-for-17 (58.8%) from 3-point range, which proved to be the difference.
 
Graduate student Emaia O'Brien posted a team-high 18 points, going 4-for-6 from 3-point range and a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line, while fifth-year senior Aaliyah McQueen scored 15 points with 12 coming in the second half, going 5-for-7 from the field and 3-for-4 shooting from long range.
 
Graduate Student Jasmine Edwards had a solid all-around game once again, just missing a double-double with nine points and eight rebounds with two assists, three steals, and two blocks defensively. Freshmen Kailey Starks also posted her second consecutive impressive effort with nine points, four boards, two assists, and two steals. Senior Alize Tripp chipped in with six points while freshman Anna Lassan connected on her first collegiate 3-pointer.
 
Game 3 - Detroit Mercy 44 at Michigan State 101 - Nov. 20, 2024:
Freshman Kailey Starks had a solid breakout game against some tough competition, scoring a team-high 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the floor and 5-for-6 from the free throw line with four steals defensively as Detroit Mercy suffered their first lost of the season with a 101-44 setback at Michigan State on Wednesday night at the Breslin Center.
 
Fifth-year senior Aaliyah McQueen added seven points with six rebounds, while senior Alize Tripp chipped in with six points, going a perfect 4-4 from the charity stripe. Sophomore Makayla Jackson also added six points, with freshman Anna Lassan scoring five points, going 3-for-4 from the free throw line.
 
Four Titans Score in Double Figures in Win Over Bellarmine
Game 2 - Detroit Mercy 73 vs Bellarmine 71 - Nov. 16, 2024:
Detroit Mercy had four players reach double figures, led by fifth-year senior Aaliyah McQueen and junior Myonna Hooper with 16 each followed by graduate student Emaia O'Brien with 11 points and sophomore Makayla Jackson with 10 points as the Titans defeated Bellarmine 73-71 handing the Knights their first loss of the season on Saturday afternoon.
 
Graduate student Jasmine Edwards just missed a double-double with nine points and 11 rebounds. Detroit Mercy (2-0) was active on the defensive end grabbing 16 steals with McQueen and Jackson having four each. The Titans also posted 29 points off 21 Bellarmine (3-1) turnovers.
 
Titans Hold Off Bowling Green to Secure Season Opening Win
Game 1 - Detroit Mercy 73 vs Bowling Green 66 - Nov. 8, 2024:
Junior Myonna Hooper poured in a career-high 24 points on 7-for-9 shooting, 2-for-4 from 3-point range, 8-for-11 from the free throw line, with four assists to lead Detroit Mercy to a solid 73-66 win over Bowling Green in home opening action on Friday night at Calihan Hall. The Titans' win snapped a 10-game skid against Head Coach Kate Achter's alma mater and was the first win over the Falcons since a 67-62 decision on Nov. 20, 2002.
 
It's All About the Kids
Exhibition Game: Detroit Mercy 100 vs UM-Dearborn 53 - Nov. 6, 2024
For the second consecutive season, the game was part of Field Trip Day, where the Titans hosted students from multiple grade schools from the Metro Detroit area to give back to the community.