STATE UNIVERSITY 2020-21 WOMEN’S

2020-21 Cougars Schedule QUICK FACTS General Information Basketball Information Date Opponent Time Location...... Chicago, Ill. Head Coach...... Tiffany Sardin 11/25 vs. NORTH DAKOTA 12pm Founded...... 1867 Alma Mater...... Virginia, ’06 11/28 vs. LOYOLA-CHICAGO TBA Enrollment...... 4,767 Record at CSU...... 0-0 (1st season) 11/30 at DePaul TBA Nickname...... Cougars Career Record...... Same 12/2 at UIC 7:30pm Colors...... Green and White Associate Head Coach...... Curtis Loyd 12/4 at Oakland TBA Affiliation...... NCAA Division I Assistant Coach...... Nanyamka Moore 12/14 vs. INDIANA STATE TBA Conference...... Western Athletic Conference Assistant Coach...... Brittany Batts 12/21 at Southern -Edwardsville TBA President...... Z. Scott, Esq. Graduate Assistant...... Kristina Antonenko 12/30 at Western Illinois TBA Director of Athletics...... Elliott Charles Athletic Trainer...... Jose Alcantar 1/8 at UT Rio Grande Valley* 6pm Faculty Athletic Rep...... Dr. June Price-Shingles Sports Performance...... Jacob Ross 1/9 at UT Rio Grande Valley* 3pm 1/15 vs. GRAND CANYON* 2pm Team History Team Information 1/16 vs. GRAND CANYON* 1pm First Year of Basketball...... 1966-67 2019-20 Record...... 1-27 1/22 at California Baptist* 4pm First Year of Division I Basketball...... 1984-85 WAC Record...... 1-13 1/23 at California Baptist* 4pm All-Time Division I Record...... 238-754 Home...... 0-12 1/29 vs. SEATTLE U* 3pm Postseason Appearances...... WBI (2011) Away...... 1-13 1/30 vs. SEATTLE U* 3pm Neutral...... 0-2 2/5 at Utah Valley* 6:30pm Returning/Lost...... 3/9 2/6 at Utah Valley* 4pm Media Information Starters Returning/Lost...... 2/3 2/12 vs. TARLETON* 2pm Athletic Comms Coord...... Sam Brief Newcomers...... 8 2/13 vs. TARLETON* 2pm Cell...... 847-494-6726 2/26 at Dixie State* 8pm Email...... [email protected] Emil & Patricia Jones Convocation Center 2/27 at Dixie State* 8pm Assoc. AD for Comms...... Jim Christman Capacity...... 7,000 3/5 vs. NEW MEXICO STATE* 2pm Cell...... 847-560-1300 Opened...... 2007 3/6 vs. NEW MEXICO STATE* 2pm Email...... [email protected] 3/10 WAC Tournament* TBA 3/11 WAC Tournament* TBA 3/12 WAC Tournament* TBA 3/13 WAC Tournament* TBA 2020-21 Roster Information (2019-20 Statistics) All times CENTRAL time *Western Athletic Conference game Dates and Times are subject to change STARTERS RETURNING HT YR POS PPG RPG APG BPG SPG 21 Aja Phoumiphat 5-5 So. G 6.2 3.4 3.6 0.1 1.4 2019-20 WAC Standings 23 Kourtney Crane 5-7 Jr. G 11.6 3.7 1.9 0.3 1.8 Conference Overall UM Kansas City...... 13-3 .813 21-10 .677 LETTERWINNERS RETURNING Grand Canyon...... 10-6 .625 15-12 .556 HT YR POS PPG RPG APG BPG SPG Utah Valley...... 9-6 .600 12-16 .429 14 Precious Adediran 5-10 So. G 0.9 1.1 0.1 0.1 0.4 CSU Bakersfield...... 8-8 .500 16-13 .552 21 Aja Phoumiphat 5-5 So. G 6.2 3.4 3.6 0.1 1.4 UT Rio Grande Valley....8-8 .500 13-17 .433 23 Kourtney Crane 5-7 Jr. G 11.6 3.7 1.9 0.3 1.8 New Mexico State...... 8-8 .500 12-18 .400 California Baptist...... 7-9 .438 16-15 .516 NEWCOMERS Seattle U...... 6-9 .400 13-16 .448 HT YR POS HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS SCHOOL Chicago State...... 1-13 .071 1-27 .036 10 Wynter Webb 5-10 Jr. G Atlanta, GA / Harcum College 11 Laura Segues 5-10 Fr. G/F Castelloli, Spain / Institut Pere Vives Vich 12 Ana Haklicka 5-6 Fr. G Dubrovnik, Croatia / Touristic and Catering School 15 Ifunaya Okoye 5-11 Jr. F Lagos, Nigeria / Virginia Union 20 Nadia Thorman-McKey 5-10 Jr. F Evanston, IL / State Fair Community College 22 Ra’Shamani Webb 5-8 Fr. G Bloomington, IL / Normal West High School 24 Leilani Moncrease 6-0 Sr. F Oakland, CA / Northwestern State 31 Christina Britter 6-1 Jr. F Dunlap, IL / Northern Illinois CHICAGO STATE COUGARS BASKETBALL PAGE 2 DID YOU KNOW? HEAD COACH TIFFANY SARDIN Athletics is comprised Tiffany Sardin, former University of 15 intercollegiate teams involving over 150 of Virginia standout, Chicago Public student-athletes that compete in basketball, Schools Hall of Famer and City of cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, indoor and Harvey Hall of Famer, was named outdoor track and volleyball. CSU held mem- the new head women’s basketball berships in the National Association of Intercol- coach at Chicago State on May 15, legiate Athletics (NAIA) and NCAA Division II 2020. before transitioning to NCAA Division I in 1994. Melvin Bland was the first CSU student athlete Sardin, a Chicago native, returns to to gain NAIA All-American status in 1974 as her hometown after spending two a wrestler. Fred Evans became the first black years at Longwood University serv- swimmer ever to win a national championship in ing as assistant coach before being 1975. The Chicago State University promoted to associate head coach team produced two NCAA Division II All-Amer- and recruiting coordinator prior to icans (George Hansen and Bob Janecyk) in the 2019-20 season. the 1975–76 season. In 1984, the CSU men’s basketball team captured third place at the NAIA Upon arriving at Longwood, Sardin National Championships. oversaw a Longwood offense that improved its scoring average by Chicago State University Athletic Achieve- nearly 5.0 points per game, posting ments (2011-present)...Women’s Basketball... the highest scoring average since CSU’s women’s basketball team earned its only joining the Big South. Under the tu- postseason appearance in program history in telage of Sardin Longwood’s Dayna 2011, winning the regular season and confer- Rouse had a breakout season. Rouse averaged 14.4 points per game and shot .565 from the floor ence title, earning a spot in the 2011 Women’s on the way to All-Big South second team honors. Basketball Invitational...Men’s Basketball... CSU’s men’s basketball team won the 2013 Sardin also oversaw the development of Longwood forwards Mallory Odell and Akila Smith, both of Tournament title and an whom emerged as major contributors down the stretch. Odell finished as Longwood’s top rebounder appearance in the Collegeinsider.com Postsea- at 7.0 per game and averaged a career-high 6.7 points per game in 2018-19, while Smith ended her son Tourmament (CIT)...Men’s Outdoor Track inaugural campaign as a starter in Longwood’s final 10 games. & Field...2019 4x100-Meter Relay team (Mat- thew Brown, Olesson Cesalien, Ricordo McKen- Prior to arriving in Farmville, Sardin spent two years at Clemson University, where she served as po- zie, Carlton Sims) were 2019 Honorable Men- sition coach for the forwards and centers while also assisting in recruiting. She helped Clemson to tion All-Americans and WAC Champion. Their an 11-win improvement in her first season and followed that by helping the Tigers to the program’s feat marked the first time the Chicago State’s first ACC Tournament win in three seasons. men’s track & field program was represented at the national meet. Brown (100m) and McKenzie Sardin has also made assistant coaching stops at Illinois-Chicago and Boston University. (200m) established new CSU outdoor records in their respective events while the duo teamed Sardin honed her coaching skills learning under the legendary Debbie Ryan at the University of with Sims and Cesalien to establish new school Virginia, where she had a decorated playing career. From 2002-06, Sardin helped the Cavaliers to a records in both the 4x100m and 4x200m relays 71-53 overall record and back-to-back 20-win seasons as a junior and senior. A three-year captain, in 2019...2019 WAC 100-Meter Dash Champion she was named to the ACC All-Tournament team in 2005, and received the program’s Coaches’ Matthew Brown...Men’s Indoor Track & Field... Award of Excellence, Best Offensive Player and Leadership Awards in 2006. 2019 WAC 200-Meter Dash Champion Ricordo McKenzie, 2019 WAC 60-Meter Dash Champi- The Chicago Public Schools Hall of Famer, got her start in coaching at William Byrd High School on Matthew Brown...Women’s Outdoor Track outside of Roanoke, Va., before making the jump the collegiate level two seasons later in 2012 as & Field...2018 WAC Champion 400-Meter an assistant at Mount Olive College. She spent one season with the Trojans before making the jump Dash Jocindra Glee...Women’s Indoor Track to the Division I ranks at UIC. & Field...2017 and 2018 WAC Champion 400-Meter Dash Jocindra Glee...Women’s Sardin also spent time in the professional ranks in Portugal. She led her team in scoring and re- Soccer...2018 Second Team all-conference MF bounding as they secured their first Euro Cup appearance. Sara Quevedo...Women’s Tennis...2019 Diana Borodina/Katarina Drazic named No. 2 First Sardin received her Bachelor of Arts in sociology from the University of Virginia in 2006 and is Team All-WAC Doubles and both named second currently pursuing her master’s degree in human service, criminal justice and counseling at Liberty team All-WAC Singles...Diana Borodina named University. WAC Freshman of the Year in 2019. CHICAGO STATE COUGARS BASKETBALL PAGE 3 2020-21 CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY COUGARS

Wynter Laura Ana Precious Ifunanya Webb 10 Segues 11 Haklicka 12 Adediran 14 Okoya 15

Nadia Aja Ra’Shamani Kourtney Leilani Thorman-McKey 20 Phoumiphat 21 Webb 22 Crane 23 Moncrease 24

Christina Britter 31 11 2

Coaching Staff

Tiffany Curtis Nan Brittany Sardin Lloyd Moore Batts CHICAGO STATE COUGARS BASKETBALL PAGE 4 COUGARS EMBARK ON A NEW ERA WAC Preseason Polls 2020-21 Season Preview WAC Coaches Select Utah Valley, Olaeta as Preseason Favorites The rallying cry, “Beat the Odds,” represents the grit that unites the 2020-21 Chicago State women’s basketball team. In a vote of the league’s nine head coaches, Utah Valley has been named the favorite to win the 2020-21 women’s basketball title and Cali- First-year head coach Tiffany Sardin felt that developing their rallying cry, as a team, fornia Baptist’s Ane Olaeta was selected as the united them. WAC Preseason Player of the Year.

“Through this collective effort, our women recognized their teammates’ pure passion and 2020-21 Preseason Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll perseverance in the commitment and direction of the season ahead,” Sardin said. “They Rank Teams (1st-Place Votes) Points recognize it in each other and within themselves.” 1. Utah Valley (2) 57 2. California Baptist (4) 55 3. Grand Canyon (2) 47 United in passion and perseverance, Sardin is channeling their energy to reshape their 4. New Mexico State (1) 45 presence on the court. 5. UT Rio Grande Valley 44 6. Seattle U 29 7. Tarleton 23 “We want to show something different, not only to ourselves, but to this league and our op- 8. Dixie State 13 ponents,” Sardin said. “We’re going to give our best effort, no matter the challenge in front 9. Chicago State 11 of us or who we’re competing against. That is grit, the embodiment of beating the odds.”

Sardin, a Chicago native and former University of Virginia standout, is back in her home- town where her playing accolades included being named a City of Harvey Hall of Famer. The CPS Hall of Fame is housed in the Jones Convocation Center (JCC), the site of her new office and where her team will play its home games.

“Being home means being with my family, which empowers me in so many ways,” Sardin said of returning home.

Preseason Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Returning home also means spending more time in the community that supported her All-WAC Teams years ago. First Team Ane Olaeta, California Baptist Amara Graham, UT Rio Grande Valley “I am honored to serve and give back to my community, as I lead this team that’s changing Josie Williams, Utah Valley Maria Carvalho, Utah Valley and growing,” Sardin said. “It’s refreshing to breathe new life, energy and some undiscov- Aaliyah Prince, NM State ered hope into our community.”

Second Team Laura Piera, Grand Canyon The CPS Hall of Fame plaque on the wall in the JCC helps provide Sardin with perspec- Courtney Murphy, Seattle U tive. Soufia Inoussa, NM State Alexa Hoy, Tarleton McKenzi Williams, Seattle U “This might sound strange, but honestly, sometimes I forget,” Sardin explained. “It helps to walk over there and see it, to remind myself I’m here for a reason. It represents more Preseason Player of the Year: Ane Olaeta, California Baptist than wins and losses and, hopefully, the women I’m fortunate to coach understand that as well.”

Sardin comes to CSU after spending two years at Longwood University serving as an as- sistant coach and recruiting coordinator before being promoted to associate head coach prior to the 2019-20 season. She honed her coaching skills playing for two legendary female coaches: Dorothy Gaters at John Marshall High School and Debbie Ryan at the University of Virginia. At Virginia, Sardin was a three-year captain and received the pro- gram’s Coaches’ Award of Excellence, Best Offensive Player and Leadership Awards.

CHICAGO STATE COUGARS BASKETBALL PAGE 5 Sardin’s first move as head coach was to bring in Curtis Loyd as an associate head WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE coach. Loyd was on the Virginia coaching staff during Sardin’s playing days and he will The Western Athletic Conference officially now look to assist her on the bench. The staff also includes assistants Nan Moore and welcomed and Tar- Brittany Batts and graduate assistant manager Kristina Antonenko. leton State University as members of the conference on June 29, 2020. The Trail- “Our coaching staff has done an excellent job of trying to get our women up to speed, blazers and Texans now begin the four-year considering of circumstances,” Sardin said. “They are dedicated to the continued devel- reclassification to Division I. opment of all our women. They work to build trust and belief in what we are trying to do as a team. “Since accepting inviations to join the WAC, this is a date that has been eagerly antici- “It’s been impressive to see their autonomy grow throughout the stages, seeing them take pated at the two schools and throughout the ownership without us, the coaches. Seeing them initiating things we would traditionally do conference,” said WAC Commissioner Jeff in a normal setting is encouraging. I’m really excited about this team, and proud of how Hurd. “On behalf of the conference, it is a well we’ve bonded and developed chemistry as a new team during these unique times.” great pleasure to welcome both Dixie State and Tarleton to the WAC.” Sardin, her coaching staff and her team are cautiously thankful to be having a season.

Dixie State was the first of the two schools to “Talking to coaches across the country, it’s challenging all the way around,” Sardin said. accept an invitation to join the conference, “Not only with the scheduling and recruiting, but in the absence of all the comforts of announcing their intention on Jan. 11, 2019. normalcy. Formerly a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the Trailblazers were “Everybody’s creatively adjusting to working with what they can at the moment. Of course, co-champions in men’s basketball and were the challenges are there but again, make no excuses, figure out a way, be creative and currently tied upon the top of the keep it going.” standings when the season was suspend- ed. Dixie State also won 20 PacWest team The Cougars return four players from a season ago: Precious Adediran (UK, London/ championships in 11 seasons before joining Barking Abbey Sixth Form), Kourtney Crane (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods), Aja Phoumiphat the RMAC. They will reunite with previous (Las Vega, Nev./Centennial) and Shania Jackson (Chicago, Ill./Kenwood). PacWest foes California Baptist and Grand Canyon in the WAC. Sardin also welcomes eight newcomers, including five transfers (Christina Britter (Dun- lap, IL/Dunlap ), Leilani Moncrease (Oakland, CA/Moreau Catholic), Ifunanya Okoye Tarleton accepted an invitational to the (Lagos, Nigeria /Banner Christian School), Nadia Thorman-McKey (Evanston, IL/Evan- WAC on Nov. 12, 2019 after a storied his- ston Township) and Wynter Webb (Atlanta, GA/Mill Creek)) and three freshmen (Ana tory as a member of the Lone Star Confer- Haklicka (Dubrovnik, Croatia/Touristic and Catering School ), Laura Segues (Castelloli, ence. The Texans won 36 LSC champion- Spain) and Ra’Shamani Webb (Bloomington, Ill. /Normal West HS)). ships, nine LSC tournament championships and 14 regional championships across 14 This mix of returners, transfers and freshmen means opportunity will exist for program NCAA sports. Just last season, they earned ownership and leadership from each group and competition from within to push one an- the conference title in football, a divisional other. title in women’s basketball and were atop the standings when the season was “As the returners share their insights and experiences, they become the catalyst of growth cut short due to COVID-19. and adjustment for the newcomers,” Sardin said.

The University of Missouri-Kansas City left Sardin points to Phoumiphat as a crucially important voice for her team. the conference in July 2020 after complet- ing a seven-season tenure and is now a “I’m looking for Aja to take a big jump in being that vocal leader on the court in that point member of the while Cal guard position,” Sardin said. State Bakersfield joined the Western Athlet- ic Conference in July 2013 and left for the While the Cougars’ roster lists just two players over six feet, team speed will be an asset. Big West Conference on July 1, 2020.

“We would like to play fast, that’s the plan,” Sardin said. “To stay healthy, play together and compete every second we are on the court.” CHICAGO STATE COUGARS BASKETBALL PAGE 6 2020-21 CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY COUGARS ALPHABETICAL ROSTER 14 Precious Adediran G 5-10 So. London, U.K. / Barking Abbey Sixth Form 31 Christina Britter F 6-1 Jr. Dunlap, Ill. / Northern Illinois 23 Kourtney Crane G 5-7 Jr. Peoria, Ill. / Richwoods High School 12 Ana Haklicka G 5-6 Fr. Dubrovnik, Croatia / Touristic and Catering School 24 Leilani Moncrease F 6-0 Sr. Oakland, Calif. / Northwestern State 15 Ifunaya Okoye F 5-11 Jr. Lagos, Nigeria / Virginia Union 21 Aja Phoumiphat G 5-5 So. Las Vega, Nev. / Centennial High School 11 Laura Segues G/F 5-10 Fr. Castelloli, Spain / Institut Pere Vives Vich 20 Nadia Thorman-McKey F 5-10 Jr. Evanston, Ill. / State Fair Community College 22 Ra’Shamani Webb G 5-8 Fr. Bloomington, Ill. / Normal West High School 10 Wynter Webb G 5-10 Jr. Atlanta, Ga. / Harcum College 2020-21 CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY COUGARS NUMERICAL ROSTER 10 Wynter Webb G 5-10 Jr. Atlanta, Ga. / Harcum College 11 Laura Segues G/F 5-10 Fr. Castelloli, Spain / Institut Pere Vives Vich 12 Ana Haklicka G 5-6 Fr. Dubrovnik, Croatia / Touristic and Catering School 14 Precious Adediran G 5-10 So. London, U.K. / Barking Abbey Sixth Form 15 Ifunaya Okoye F 5-11 Jr. Lagos, Nigeria / Virginia Union 20 Nadia Thorman-McKey F 5-10 Jr. Evanston, Ill. / State Fair Community College 21 Aja Phoumiphat G 5-5 So. Las Vega, Nev. / Centennial High School 22 Ra’Shamani Webb G 5-8 Fr. Bloomington, Ill. / Normal West High School 23 Kourtney Crane G 5-7 Jr. Peoria, Ill. / Richwoods High School 24 Leilani Moncrease F 6-0 Sr. Oakland, Calif. / Northwestern State 31 Christina Britter F 6-1 Jr. Dunlap, Ill. / Northern Illinois PRO-NUN-SEE-AY-SHUNS Laura Segues...... LOW-ra SEG-ess Ifunaya Okoye...... ee-foo-NAI-yuh oh-KOY-eh (goes by “Iffy” = EYE-fee)

Ana Haklicka...... AH-nuh Hock-LITCH-kuh Aja Phoumiphat...... AH-juh Poo-ME-pot

Precious Adediran...... Precious Ahh-deh-DIE-rin Ra’Shamani Webb...... RAH-shu-MAH-nee Webb (goes by “Rosh”)

Leilani Moncrease...... LAY-lah-nee MAHN-crease CHICAGO STATE COUGARS BASKETBALL PAGE 7 2019-20 STATISTICS CHICAGO STATE COUGARS BASKETBALL PAGE 8 2020-21 WAC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE