Preview: Women’s Basketball Set to Begin 2023-24 Season
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio. – The Mount Vernon Nazarene University women's basketball team begins the 2023-24 regular season on Thursday, October 26 at Kenyon College.
After a promising start to the 2022-23 season, the injury bug bit the Lady Cougars hard, forcing them to limp to a seventh-place finish in the Crossroads League with a 12-17 overall record. It's a new season, however for head coach Amanda Short and her team. Despite having to replace some main contributors from last season, MVNU still has several key pieces back, plus the addition of a strong 2023 recruiting class.
Angela Roshak was one of the most dominate freshman in the Crossroads League last season and finished the year with averages of 12.4 points per game on 50.7 shooting from the field. Roshak also averaged 9.4 rebounds per game, and 1.2 assists per game. Roshak made the All-Freshman team and All-Crossroads League Second Team. Her 9.4 rebounds per game led the entire nation in rebounds among all qualified freshmen.
Madelyn Lawson and Emily Walker also return for MVNU. Lawson made the All-Freshman team after ranking third in both points and rebounds among all the conference's freshmen. In league play, Lawson averaged 10.7 points per game and 5.2 rebounds per game. Walker returns as the floor general for MVNU and looks to build off her strong sophomore season. Walker averaged 5.4 points while shooting 42.2% from the field and 39.5% from three. Walker also averaged 4.4 assists per game to just 1.2 turnovers. Walker was first in the Crossroads League in assist to turnover ratio.
Peyton Davis also returns for MVNU. The senior begins her second season as a Lady Cougar after transferring in from Wingate University prior to the 2022-23 season. Davis averaged 8.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists.
MVNU also will be getting Katie Sprang back after she missed last season recovering from an ACL injury. Sprang will look to give the Lady Cougars an added spark in the rotation as a junior.
MVNU brought in a strong class of newcomers, highlighted by the additions of transfers Noelle Lavery and Chelsea Huffman. Lavery comes in as a junior from Hillsdale College and will look to give MVNU added scoring and versatility on the wing. Huffman joins the Lady Cougars from Ursuline College as a junior and will be looking to give MVNU a boost on both sides of the court. Shalen Guilliams (Wooster transfer) Jaelle Keller (Margaretta HS), Megan Weakley (Big Walnut HS), and Camryn Cummings (Olentangy HS) round out the recruiting class and give MVNU added depth and talent for the 2023-24 season.
Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a private, four-year, intentionally Christian teaching university for traditional age students, graduate students, and working adults. With a 327-acre main campus in Mount Vernon, Ohio, MVNU emphasizes academic excellence, spiritual growth, and service to community and church. MVNU offers an affordable education both in-seat and online to nearly 2,000 students from 25 states and 11 foreign countries.