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After a strong 2012-13 season ranked No. 11 in the NAIA Division I, Benedictine College women’s basketball coach Chad Folsom gets four freshmen and one transfer for the 2013-14 season.
Folsom brings in another strong class. Freshmen Rebecca Lueke, Rashayla Mathis, Marissa Rich and Sydney Vaughn and junior college transfer Kaitlyn Mercer, all look to make contributions to make another run at the Heart of America Athletic Conference title.
“These five young ladies, not only are great basketball players, but good students and great people,” Coach Folsom said in a press release. “We are very excited they will be joining our women’s basketball family.”
A pair of players will join the backcourt. Rebecca Lueke comes from St. Teresa’s Academy in Kansas City, Mo. The 5’8” guard averaged 15 points and five rebounds during her senior year and earned All-District honors while leading her team to the 5A Missouri District Championships.
“She is a very hard worker who is an aggressive defender and is strong at attacking the basket,” Folsom said.
Joining Lueke is Rashayla Mathis. The 5’6” point guard from Leavenworth High School, averaged 10 points and 3.5 assists. Mathis earned All-State Honorable Mention honors. She also is a great athlete, placing third in the 100 meters and 200 meters and winning the 4X100 meter relay at the Kansas High School state track meet.
“She is a very quick, athletic guard who can get it to the basket and defends very well,” Folsom said.
Three new faces will be in the frontcourt. Sydney Vaughn is a 5’11” forward from Bishop Miege High School. Vaughn helped her team to a 17-6 record, averaged 10 points and five rebounds and was a second team All-EKL and All-State Honorable Mention performer. Typically, coaches want tall players in the post, but Vaughn is able to step out to the perimeter.
“Sydney is a good outside shooter who possesses strong leadership skills and a passion for success,” Folsom said.
Marissa Rich will join as the other freshman forward. The 6’1” post from Tempe, Ariz. averaged 11 points, eight rebounds and four assists. She helped lead her team to a Division IV Arizona State title her junior year and a state runner-up her senior year. During her high school career, Rich scored 1,350 points, grabbed 775 rebounds and was a McDonald’s All-American nominee. And if basketball wasn’t enough, she also earned All-State honors in volleyball, softball and track.
“Marissa is an athletic forward who can score on the inside and the outside,” Folsom said.
The lone junior college transfer is 6’2” post Kaitlyn Mercer, transferring from State Fair Community College. Mercer began her collegiate career at NCAA Division II Missouri Western University. While in high school, Mercer averaged 16 points, eight rebounds and five blocks during her senior year.
“We are very excited to be adding Kaitlyn’s inside scoring ability and defensive presence to our team next season,” Folsom said.
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