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June 3, 2009
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The women's basketball team will enter the 2009-2010 basketball season hoping to defend its third straight WHAC Championship and will go about it with many fresh faces in the program. Head Coach Mark Youngs announced today that Davenport University will welcome 13 student-athletes for the 2009-2010 school year. Jeannie Closson- 6'2" Kalamazoo Valley Community College (MI) Jeannie was first team All-MCCAA this season. She was also named MCCAA All-State and All-Region in NJCAA Region XII. She led the Cougars to a 27-8 record and a seventh place finish at the NJCAA National Tournament. Jeannie led the team in scoring at 12.7 points per game and in rebounding at 7.4 per game. She finished 22nd in the nation averaging 2.27 blocked shots per game. Jeannie had a perfect 4.0 gpa at KVCC and graduated 2nd in her class from Parchment High School. Barbara Clayborn- 5'11" Jackson Community College (MI) Barb burst onto the scene during her freshman year of college when she averaged 16.7 points and 10.2 rebounds per game for the Jets. This season, she led Jackson in scoring at 11.7 points per game and averaged 9.65 rebounds per game. In high school at Michigan Center High, Barb led the team to a 99-7 record while playing varsity all four years. Barb was also valedictorian at Michigan Center High School. Leah Sevcik- 6'0" Manitowac Roncalli Catholic High School (WI) Leah led the Jets to a 20-5 record this season. She was chosen first team All State in Division 3 by the WBCA and will represent the North in the Wisconsin High School All Star Game. She was ranked by WISHoops as the #20 player in Wisconsin this season. She averaged 13.9 points and 8.5 rebounds per game this season. Katelyn Cousins- 5'8" Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central High School (MI) Katelyn, along with her twin sister Kristina, led the Rangers to an 18-6 record this season. She led the team in scoring at 13.71 points per game while being named to BCAM's "Best of the Best" list in Class A. Kate is a tremendous athlete whom was recruited to play three different sports in college (basketball, volleyball and soccer). Kate helped FHC to the schools first district championship before bowing out to eventual state champion Benton Harbor in the regionals. Going head-to-head with 6'3" Illinois-bound Destiny Williams in that game, Kate scored a season-high 30 points. Megan Collison- 5'8" Grand Rapids West Catholic High School (MI) Megan was named Class B special mention All-State by BCAM this season as well as being named Academic All State for the second time. She shot 82% from the free throw line while averaging a team-leading 9.4 points per game. She also averaged 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game while playing out of position for most of her senior year. Kristina Cousins- 5'7" Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central High School (MI) Kristina, along with her twin sister Katelyn, led the Rangers to an 18-6 record this season. She was second on the team in scoring at 9.21 points per game, while leading the team in assists. Kristina is a terrific on-the-ball defender and is a prototype player for the Panther's press. Kristina was also recruited to play volleyball and soccer in college before choosing to play basketball at DU. Brooke Adams-5'11" St. Johns High School (MI) Brooke was a first team all-conference performer in 2009. She averaged 12.4 points and 5.2 rebounds this past year for St. Johns (12-9 overall). Brooke tore her ACL at the tail end of her junior season, and has since made full recovery. Brooke is a terrific athlete, with very long arms for her height. She runs and jumps well and should be able to guard both a 3 and a 4 at Davenport. Kristina Gentile- 5'8" Dearborn Devine Child High School (MI) Kristina helped Divine Child to a 17-8 record this season and a long state tournament run to the Class B quarterfinals. She was recently named Special Mention All State by BCAM in Class B. She was second on the team in scoring, assists, blocks and three pointers made during her senior year. As a junior, she was second on the team in scoring as well, while leading the team in three pointers and blocked shots. Over the last two seasons, this sharp-shooter led Divine Child with 77 three pointers made while being named All-Catholic league, All-City and All Metro Detroit honorable mention. Lindsay Holmquist- 6'1" Reed City High School (MI) Lindsay, a 6'1" guard should be a matchup nightmare for NAIA opponents. In just three varsity seasons at Reed City, Lindsay scored 1061 points for a three year average of 16.9 per game. As a junior she averaged a career-best 20.1 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. Her numbers dipped a little as a senior offensively, but she improved defensively averaging over 2 blocks and 2 steals per game. Lindsay was named Academic All State by BCAM and was named to several All-State teams (AP, Detroit Free Press and Detroit News). Kelsie Benike- 6'1" Campbellsport High School (WI) Kelsie was named all state in Division 2 in Wisconsin this season. She was the EWC player of the year as a junior and even though her numbers across the board improved, was voted runner up as a senior. She was a unanimous choice for first team all-conference each of the last two years. As a senior she averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds per game. She also hit 18 three pointers, had 64 steals and blocked 40 shots this year. As a junior, she averaged 13 points and 8.5 rebounds per game while hitting 23 three pointers, garnering 54 steals and blocking 43 shots. Kelsie also managed to lead the team in assists both years. For her career, Kelsie had 1010 points and 709 rebounds. Kelsie is the younger sister of 2009 WHAC Player of the Year and current Davenport Panther, Kallie Benike. Emily Nielsen- 5'7" Marshall High School (MI) Emily, a class B all-stater and three-year varsity starter had a tremendous senior year. She led Marshall to an 18-5 record and a district championship this year. She was named to BCAM's "Best of the Best" list in Class B. Emily averaged 17 points, 7 rebounds and hit more than 40 three pointers this past year. She also averaged just under 3 steals and 2.7 assists on the season and scored in double figures in 22 of Marshall's 23 games. She can play both guard positions, possesses a pure three point shot and can create shots for herself or her teammates off of the dribble. Lauren Malinowski- 5'2" Dearborn Divine Child High School (MI) Lauren was named First Team Class B All State by every major publication there was in Michigan this year (BCAM, AP, and Detroit Free Press). She led Divine Child to the state quarterfinals this year averaging 15 points, 5 assists and 4 steals per game. Lauren is a cat-quick point guard, with very good vision and outstanding shooting range. Staci Stadler- 5'4" Monroe High School (MI) Staci will join Panther senior Megan Peters as the second player to come to DU from Monroe High School. Staci was a special mention Class A selection from BCAM this season, honorable mention in the Detroit Free Press, as well as being named her team's MVP. She averaged 10.8 points per game while hitting a team-leading 42 three pointers. Over the past two seasons, Staci connected on 87 three pointers. Coach Mark Youngs Comments "This year's recruiting class along with the class of 2008 assures us of a very bright future. One thing that our coaching staff is always talking about is the importance of running a powerhouse program, and not just having a good team once in a while. We want to be one of the top 2 or 3 teams in the country every single year, and to do that, we have to recruit with the future in mind. There are some kids listed above that will be impact players in the 2009-10 season. But every single one of them has the potential to positively impact our program before they are done here." |
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