COUGAR BASKETBALL 2015-2016 1 2 COUGAR BASKETBALL 2015-2016 COUGAR BASKETBALL 2015-2016 CONTENTS University Quick Facts 2015-16 University of saint francis Location ...............Fort Wayne, Indiana WOMEN’S SCHEDULE USF #7 (27-8) IN NAIA DII COACHES’ Founded .........................................1890 POSTSEASON TOP 25 POLL Enrollment.......................................2,324 # -- Rank in NAIA Top 25 Preseason Poll (Oct. 27, 2015) DATE OPPONENT PLACE TIME President.........Sister M. Elise Kriss, OSF HUNTINGTON TOURNAMENT @ HUNTINGTON, IN Nov. 6 Aquinas (MI) @ Huntington Univ. 6 p.m. Director of Athletics........Mike McCaffrey Nov. 7 #2 Davenport (MI) @ Huntington Univ. 1 p.m. Nov. 11 Olivet Nazarene (IL) USF 7 p.m. Athletic Faculty Nov. 14 IU East USF 3 p.m. TABLE OF CONTENTS Representative...................Dr. Matt Hopf Nov. 25 #17 Huntington USF 7 p.m. Dec. 2 @ Grace Winona Lake, IN 6 p.m. Dec. 5 @ Goshen Goshen, IN 3 p.m. WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 2015-16 Outlook............................................W 4-5 Director of Athletics Dec. 12 @ #37 Southeastern (FL) Lakeland, FL 1 p.m. Coaching Staff.............................................. W 6-7 Marketing........................Tim Alexander Dec. 14 @ Webber International (FL)Lake Wales, FL 6 p.m. Dec. 22 #29 Cornerstone (MI) USF 1 p.m. Player Roster.................................................... W 8 Director of Sports INDIANA TECH TOURNAMENT FT. WAYNE, IN Player Profiles..............................................W 9-12 Dec. 29 @ Indiana Tech Ft. Wayne, IN 7 p.m. Opponents................................................W 14-15 Information...............................Bill Scott Dec. 30 U.of Northwestern Ohio USF 7 p.m. Crossroads League Composite Schedule......... W 16 Jan. 2 @ #9T Marian Indianapolis 1 p.m. Crossroads League & NAIA Statistics.......W 17-18 Athletic Affiliation.....................National Jan. 6 @ Mount Vernon Nazarene Mt. Vernon, OH 5:30 p.m. Team Stats & Record Book...................... W 19-24 Association of Intercollegiate Jan. 9 @ Taylor Upland, IN 1 p.m. NAIA Championship................................W 27-28 Jan. 13 Spring Arbor USF 7 p.m. Athletics (NAIA) Jan. 16 @ #5 Indiana Wesleyan Marion, IN 1 p.m. Jan. 20 Bethel USF 7 p.m. MEN’S BASKETBALL Conference Affiliations Jan. 23 Goshen USF 1 p.m. 2015-16 Outlook...............................................M 4 ..........................The Crossroads League Jan. 27 @ #17 Huntington Huntington, IN 7 p.m. Coaching Staff.............................................. M 6-7 Jan. 30 Grace USF 1 p.m. (formerly MCC) Player Roster.....................................................M 8 Feb. 3 Mount Vernon Nazarene USF 5:30 p.m. Player Profiles............................................. M 9-13 Arena/Capacity.........................................Hutzell Feb. 6 #9T Marian USF 1 p.m. Men & Women’s Feb. 10 @ Spring Arbor Spring Arbor, MI 7 p.m. 2015-16 Preseason Coaches’ Polls....................M 13 Athletic Center/1,850 Feb. 13 Taylor USF 1 p.m. Crossroads League Statistics......................M 14-16 Nickname..................................Cougars Feb. 17 @ Bethel Mishawaka, IN 7 p.m. Feb. 20 #5 Indiana Wesleyan USF 1 p.m. Opponents................................................M 17-18 CROSSROADS LEAGUE TOURNAMENT Crossroads League Composite Schedule......... M 19 Team Colors........Royal, Silver, White, Black Feb. 23 First Round TBD 7 p.m. Team Stats & Record Book.......................M 20-25 Feb. 26 Semifinal TBD 7 p.m. NAIA Championship................................M 26-27 Feb. 29 Championship TBD 7 p.m. Bold – CL Games MEDIA INFORMATION 25th Annual NAIA Division II Championship Office of Sports Information......................... W 12 @ Sioux City, Iowa Tyson Events Center March 9-15, 2016 GENERAL INFORMATION Fort Wayne Orthopedics.................................. W 5 2015-16 Cougar Cheerleading........................ W 13 Athletic Facilities........................................... W 25 Athletic Staff................................................. W 26 Sister M. Elise Kriss, OSF, President.............. W 26 Mike McCaffrey, Director of Athletics............W 26 Experience the University of Saint Francis..... M 28 The 2015-16 Cougar Basketball Yearbook is written and published by the University of Saint Francis Office of Sports Information. The Director of Sports Information office is located in Rolland Hall of Athletics in Hutzell Athletic Center on the east side of the campus off Leesburg Road. The office phone number is 260-399-7700, ext. 6223, fax 260-399-8164, website www.saintfranciscougars.edu. Any questions concerning teams, players or coaches should be directed to the Office of Sports Information, [email protected]. Schools intending to radio broadcast games must get advanced permission from the University of Saint Francis. Team and individual stats are produced within 30 minutes following the conclusion of home games. The 2015-16 USF Media / Fan Guide includes photos taken by Aaron Suozzi, Brian Beard, and Bill Scott. COUGAR BASKETBALL 2015-2016 3 2015-16 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL OUTLOOK New coach welcomes core of 8 veterans on quest to continue USF winning tradition New University of Saint Francis Wilson, Paige Frisch and Quila important roles this season,” NAIA Championship bowing women’s basketball coach Jason Jackson. Hester and Wilson Ridge commented. “I’m out to eventual champion Ridge won’t be starting from were starters in the majority of excited about the potential Morningside University 79-62. scratch with the Lady Cougars USF’s games in 2014-15. of this team. I don’t know if as they prepare for the 42nd we’ll be good in November. Back court season in the program’s history. Akyah Taylor, the Crossroads I don’t know how good we’ll League leading scorer in be in December. But by the Wilson returns as the veteran Start with returning senior 2014-15, decided to return to time January, February and starter after she started 34 of Brooke Ridley, a three-time Michigan State University for March roll around we have the 35 games and finished No. 2 NAIA All-America at center/ her final season of eligibility. opportunity to be very good.” in minutes played average 28.1 forward who has been crucial She had transferred to USF behind Taylor (30.0). Wilson to USF’s success over the last from MSU playing half the USF heads into the 2015-16 finished third in CL assists three seasons. 2013-14 season for USF before season ranked No. 19 in the (130) and fifth in assists per encountering an eligibility NAIA Coaches’ Division II game (3.7). She also finished “With all her experience, we issue. Top 25 after finishing No. 9 in sixth in CL assist-turnover ratio really value what she has to (1.65). say even though she is quiet by nature,” Ridge said. “When Senior Zhanna Chukhrii Brooke talks and gets her returns at shooting guard teammates involved in our looking to improve on her offense, it has a great impact on numbers from her junior our offense. She’s an important campaign when she averaged leader for us on both ends of 9.1 points a game. She’ll be the court. She is going to have sharing time with Frisch, who is to be the focal point of our another threat from long range offense. She’s smart, tough and after leading USF in 3-pointers competitive and will do what it made with 41 as a sophomore. takes to win.” Both Hensley and Jackson will figure more prominently Ridley enters her final season in USF plans this season at in the top 10 on USF career both point guard and shooting lists in scoring, scoring average, guard. Both are capable long- rebounds, rebound average, range shooters who are also field goals made, field goal able to drive the ball to the percentage, free throws made, basket and score or draw fouls. and No. 1 in blocked shots and blocked shots per game. Front court “We’ve got a number of players 2014-15 with a 25-10 record, Fortunately, Ridge has support No doubt Ridley will be heavily returning who have played a the last Crossroads League for Ridley with seven additional depended on to amp up her lot of minutes, but this year qualifier to be eliminated from returning veterans in seniors offensive output, but Ridge did they will be in a position where the NAIA Championship Mallory Hester, Bri Rinehart, point out “there’s no way one they will be counted on for in the Elite Eight. The Lady Zhanna Chukhrii, Kaleigh player will replace what Taylor even more minutes in more Cougars played in their 16th Hensley, and juniors Taylor did offensively. We’re working 4 COUGAR BASKETBALL 2015-2016 with Brooke on handling total rebounds (269), fourth in her 5.6 rebounds per game Newcomers double teams and the different steals per game (2.31), sixth in was 16th in the CL. She’s also kinds of defenses she will face scoring average, fifth in points capable of knocking down a Along with Winkeljohn and this season.” scored (524), fifth in rebounds 3-pointer as well, shooting 36 Randolph, Ridge will be per game, eighth in free-throw percent (led USF), so Hester counting on contributions Ridley averaged 15.0 points shooting percentage (.663). could be crucial to taking from three more newcomers in per game in 2014-15 along with some scoring pressure off freshman guards Josie Murphy, 7.7 rebounds. She also was a Hester will be a starter on the Ridley. Randolph is a capable Haley Roe and Meagan force on defense blocking 61 front line and Ridge will look perimeter shooter as well. Mooney. shots and collecting 81 steals. to transfer Zhana Randolph Ridley was first in the CL in to figure in the rotation as NEWCOMERS blocked shots per game (1.7) well as 6-foot-2 freshman Name CL Ht. Pos. Hometown / High School / College PPG AstPG Josie Murphy Fr. 5-4 PG Peru, IN / Peru H.S. 13.6 4.9 and total blocks, second in Greta Winkeljohn. Hester Zhana Randolph Jr. 5-9 SG/SF Rochester Hills, MI / the CL in shooting percentage finished 10th in the CL with Rochester Hills H.S./Owens C.C.