Mid Michigan College’s Women’s Basketball Team entered the 2023-2024 season hoping to build on their prior success. In the 2022-2023 season, led by first-year Coach Lance Maney, the team achieved a record of 28-6 while capturing a Northern Conference Championship, a Great Lakes District Championship, and a bid to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Tournament.
As the season began, the team faced a tough schedule, including Saint Clair County Community College in the season opener. The Lakers prevailed over the Skippers 78-67 and went on to defeat Schoolcraft College, Lansing Community College, and Jackson College among others in an unblemished 13-0 record in non-conference play. The wins over Saint Clair, Lansing, and Jackson would bolster the Lakers resume by season’s end as the Skippers and Stars would be district tournament runners-up, while the Jackson College Jets would go on to earn a national tournament bid.
The Lakers faced little resistance throughout the first five games of conference play, winning by an average margin of 66 points per game over their opponents, scoring over 95 points every game.
The team suffered their first loss of the season on the road at Bay College in Escanaba. This loss fueled a new wave of motivation and a 7-game winning streak to close out the regular season with a record of 26-1 and a second consecutive Northern Conference Championship.
This stellar season earned the team a spot in the Michigan Community College Athletic Association (MCCAA) State Championship game, a battle of the top-seeded teams of each MCCAA conference.
“We found ourselves in a rematch against Saint Clair,” shared Maney. “We relied on our skills and were crowned MCCAA State Champions. It was a huge accomplishment and testament to our team’s hard work.”
As Northern Conference Champions and MCCAA State Champions, the team took the next step in post-season play in the Region XII Great Lakes District A Tournament, competing for a spot in the NJCAA National Tournament.
In the first game of the district tournament, the Lakers found themselves in yet another non-conference rematch, this time with the Schoolcraft College Ocelots. After controlling the game for three quarters, a fourth-quarter rally from the Ocelots fell short, and the Lakers advanced to the district final with a 76-72 win.
The team took on Hocking College in the district championship game, with a bid to the national tournament on the line. The Lakers offense was slow to get going, trailing at the half 26-21. After a third quarter offensive explosion, the Lakers took the lead heading into the fourth quarter, and held on to win the district title 62-55, propelling them to the NJCAA National Tournament for the second consecutive season.
The Lakers earned a 14th seed ranking in the NJCAA DII National Tournament, placing them in a matchup with Bryant & Stratton (VA) in the first round. The Lakers dictated the game, winning 79-63, and pitting them against Rock Valley Community College, the number 3-seed in the tournament.
The Lakers ran out of gas in this contest and dropped their second-round game to Rock Valley, entering the consolation bracket. The team took on SAU Tech in their third game in three days, which ended in a loss, eliminating them from the tournament.
“While our tournament run may have left some dreams on the table, we have a lot to be proud of,” noted Maney. “Our student-athletes are leaders in and out of the classroom, and they earned honors at the conference and regional level because of it.”
Rachel Resio (Saginaw) was named All-MCCAA as the best guard among the three Michigan conferences, Northern Conference Player of the Year, Northern Conference Freshman of the Year, and Northern Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Resio averaged 14.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.8 steals per game. She was also named to the Region XII All-Region team.
Chloe Watson (Hemlock) was named All-MCCAA as the best guard/forward among the three Michigan conferences, 1st Team All-Northern Conference, as well as being on the Northern Conference All-Freshman Team. Watson averaged 14.3 points, 5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. She was also named to the Region XII All-Region team.
Terre’ya Moore (Saginaw) earned 2nd Team All-Northern Conference and Northern Conference All-Defensive Team honors. Moore averaged a near double-double with 10.7 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.
Addysen Gray (Evart) and Kahli Heuker (McBain) each were named 3rd Team Northern Conference. Gray started 28 games for the Lakers and averaged 8.1 points per game shooting 44.9% from the floor. Heuker averaged 8.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game shooting 53.6% from the floor.
Caitlyn Walter (Elsie) and Paige Ebels (McBain) each earned Honorable Mention for the Northern Conference. Walter averaged 8.5 points per game, knocking down nearly two three-point shots per game. Ebels averaged 7.8 points and finished second on the team in steals.
Mid’s Women’s Basketball Team finished the season with a 30-3 record as Northern Conference Champions, MCCAA State Champions, Great Lakes District A Champions, and NJCAA National Tournament qualifiers.
Mid Michigan College competes in the Michigan Community College Athletic Association (MCCAA) against other community colleges for conference, regional/district, and state championships. The Lakers also compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) for national tournaments. Mid currently fields teams in the following sports: men's basketball, women's basketball, men's bowling, women's bowling, baseball, softball, men’s cross country, women’s cross country, and co-ed clay target shooting. For more information about Laker Athletics, email athletics@midmich.edu or call (989) 386-6622 x548.
