Lady Bobcats Inaugural Season Recap
The Bryant & Stratton College Lady Bobcats can officially write-off their inaugural season as a major success ranking as the number two team in all of Region IV Division II...
MILWAUKEE, Wis. (April 10, 2017) – The Bryant & Stratton College Lady Bobcats can officially write-off its inaugural season as a major success ranking as the No. 2 team in all of Region IV Division II. The bobcats finished as the official No. 1 ranked team in Region IV District L and concluded the season with an overall record of 17-10.
Other than being a first year program, the highlight of the year for the Bobcats was when they put together a seven-game win streak including winning 11-of-12 games. Closing out the season averaging 78.1 points per game and shooting 42.6% from the field had Head coach Jeff Lorenz very pleased with the teams overall effort.
"I would never use a first-year program as an excuse for failure," Lorenz said.
"We have a ton of room for improvement but we have the individual skills and attributes required to win it all in 2018."
The Bobcats played majority of the season with a limited number of players and it is no secret that their success this year was due to the individual stars coming together to play as a unit
"To play the season with six players' shows how this team came together and unselfishly played as one," Lorenz said.
Bobcats guard Kiara Donaldson (Hope Christian High School) finished the season averaging 24.5 ppg marking her as the third leading scorer for the entire region and just .8 ppg shy of the leader. Donaldson was named NJCAA Second Team All-American, Region IV Division II District L Player of the Year, First Team All-Region, and earned Region IV Player of the Week four separate times throughout the season. Awards
Forward Ashley Williams (West Aurora High School) played a vital role for the Bobcats this season averaging 15.9 ppg and 9.9 rpg, putting her just shy of a double-double. Williams was named Second Team All-Region and earned the Region IV Player of the Week award three times throughout the season. Awards
Point guard Kyla Pitts (Milwaukee Vincent High School) was the motor for the team throughout the season pushing the ball in transition and keeping everyone involved on the offensive end. Pitts averaged 14.5 ppg and earned the Region IV Player of the Week award towards the back end of the season. Pitts became very well-known in the region for her ball-handling, quickness, and speed. Awards
Forwards Jazlyn Drake (Milwaukee Riverside High School) and Gabby Norwood (Milwaukee Vincent High School) handled much of the dirty work for the Bobcats throughout the season as they both played crucial roles rebounding, scoring and altering shots. Drake averaged 12.0 ppg and 6.3 rpg while Norwood added 8.0 ppg and 8.5 rebounds.
Julia Martin-Carter (Milwaukee Morse Marshall High School) was the key to the whole puzzle for the Bobcats this season as she stepped up throughout the year when the team needed her most. Carter played in 20 of the 27 games and finished the season shooting a perfect 100 percent from the free-throw line.
With all six of these athletes having so much individual success throughout the season the coaching staff is extremely excited to see what next year has in place.
"Next season we will be expecting the returning six to take on a larger role," Lorenz said. "They understand the program goals, individual expectations and will help set the tone for the incoming freshman."
Being a first year program, the NJCAA does not allow new programs like Bryant & Stratton to compete in the regional tournament at the end of each season.
Lorenz has been recruiting for next season and will be looking forward to making a run at a national championship.
Bryant & Stratton College is extremely proud of the hard work and success that the players and coaches had as a first year program and is looking forward to next year.