UNOH WBB Announces Additions to 2023-24 Roster
LIMA, OH - The University of Northwestern Ohio women's basketball head coach Matt Vavro has announced eight additions to the 2023-24 recruiting class, as Olivia Thompson (Camden, OH), Savannah Lang (Fort Myers, FL), Danae Williams (Houston, TX), Jayci Allen (Richmond, IN), Alayha Allen (Richmond, IN), Sophia Ojhammar (Stockholm, Sweden), Alycia Patterson (Niles, MI), Lyric Scott (Many, LA), will join the Racers for the upcoming season.
Oliva Thompson l Guard l Camden, Ohio
Thompson comes to UNOH following a historic high school career at Preble Shawnee High School where her team won back to back sectional championships. Olivia was a 2-time First Team Western Ohio Athletic Conference selection, 2-time First Team All-District selection, 2-time First Team All-Southwest Ohio selection. Thompson holds the school record for most threes made in a career, scored over 1000 points, received Special Mention All-State accolades her senior year where she averaged 16 points a game and was named the District 15 D3 Player of the Year.
Vavro on Thompson: "Olivia played a pivotal role on her sectional championship Preble Shawnee team where she led the team in scoring. Olivia is a three-way scorer and has a great feel for the game that allows her to make plays for her and her teammates. Her skill-set will play an important role in our system. We are thrilled she is joining the Racer family!"
Savannah Lang l Guard l Fort Myers, Florida
Lang joins the Racers after spending two seasons at Otero College where they finished 21-5 during the 2022-23 campaign. Savannah played for Coach Vavro at Otero during the 2021-22 season where she had the best season in her college career. During this time, she averaged 14 PPG and was named to the Region 9 NJCAA Division 1 All-Region Team, All-Defensive Team in addition to the Region 9 postseason All-Tournament Team. Prior to joining Otero College, Lang was an All-State selection playing at Cape Coral High School.
Vavro on Lang: "Savannah is a very unselfish basketball player and fits our team culture of how we operate on a daily basis on and off the court! Her length and overall athleticism will pay huge dividends for us. Lang is a gym rat that is always striving to be the best version of herself and we are extremely happy that she has decided to join our program!"
Danae Williams l Guard l Houston, Texas
Williams comes to UNOH following stints at South Georgia Tech and Bossier Parish. Danae spent the 2022-23 season playing for one of the top junior college programs in the country where she played for Coach Frey at South Georgia Tech who finished last year ranked #1 in the country and advanced to the Elite Eight of the NJCAA Division 1 National Tournament where they fell to eventual National Champion Northwest Florida State. Williams scored a season high 16 points vs Spartanburg Methodist in the Southeast District Championship game. Williams spent the 2021-2022 season at Bossier Parish where she scored in double digits on 10 occasions and scored a season high 21 vs Coastal Bend College. Prior to Bossier Parish, Danae was a 2-time UIL conference champion at Shadow Creek High School where she surpassed the 1000-point plateau, was named to the District 23-6A first team and earned All-region 3-6A recognition four consecutive seasons.
Vavro on Williams: "Danae has an uncanny motor that will fit our fast-paced transition style of basketball perfectly. Her ability to both push tempo offensively and apply pressure defensively will make her a threat at both ends of the floor. We can't wait to coach Danae on the court in the near future!"
Jayci Allen l Forward l Richmond, Indiana
Jayci Allen joins the Racers following a fabulous FR season at Ancilla College where she led her team in rebounding and averaged a double-double with 15 PPG and 12 RPG that included a season high of 38 points vs Southwestern Michigan during the Great Lakes District A Quarterfinals. She also collected a season high 23 rebounds at Glen Oaks. She led her team to a 21-9 record which was only the 2nd time in school history the program reached the 20-win mark. For her efforts, Allen earned 1st team All-MCCAA Western Conference honors. Prior to Ancilla, Jayci played at Richmond High School where she earned 1st team All North Central Conference honors.
Vavro on Jayci Allen: "Jayci's defensive versatility along with her ability to score and rebound will play an important role in our system. Her size and athleticism will bolster our front line. Her best basketball is ahead of her. We are looking forward to Jayci joining us on campus very soon!"
Alayha Allen l Forward l Richmond, Indiana
Alayha Allen comes to UNOH following back to back successful seasons at Olivet Nazarene University where she helped lead her team to consecutive 20-win seasons. During the 2022-23 season, Allen had season highs of 13 points and 13 rebounds both vs Calumet. Alayha will be reunited with her sister Jayci this upcoming season. Prior to her time at Olivet Nazarene, she played at Richmond High School where she earned 1st team All North Central Conference honors and was named defensive player of the year.
Vavro on Alayha Allen: "Alayha is a very mobile forward that can score around the basket and cause problems defensively with her length and quickness. Alayha has valuable experience playing collegiate basketball for a winning program. We are thrilled that Alayha chose to be a Racer!"
Sophia Ojhammar l Guard l Stockholm, Sweden
Ojhammar joins the Racers after stints with University of Buffalo, Eastern Florida State College and Edinboro University. While at Eastern Florida State College, her team advanced to the NJCAA Division 1 national tournament for the first time in program history. Prior to coming to the states, Sophia played for the Sweden national team in both the U16 and U18.
Vavro on Ojhammar: "Sophia is the kind of player every coach wants in their program. She is a great teammate, works extremely hard and makes the right basketball decisions on the court. She has been a part of high level basketball for a long time and those experiences will benefit her and our program. We're super excited to have her join our basketball family!"
Alycia Patterson l Guard l Niles, Michigan
Patterson comes to UNOH following a historic two seasons at Kirkwood playing for Hall of Fame Coach Kim Muhl where she helped lead her team to a remarkable 68-4 record, won back to back Region 11 championships and captured the 2022 NJCAA Division 2 national championship. During the 2022-23 season, Alycia started 8 games where she averaged 8 PPG and finished the year ranked #1 in the country in 3PT field goal percentage shooting 51% connecting on 77 long balls which included a season high 24 points vs North Iowa Area where she connected on 8/9 from three. Patterson enjoyed a great high school career at Niles High School where she is the schools all-time leading scorer with over 1200 points.
Vavro on Patterson: "Alycia is a true PG and has great court vision. She can really shoot the ball with range. She will bring toughness and a winning mentality to our ballclub. We can't wait to see her in Lima this fall!"
Lyric Scott l Guard l Many, Louisiana
Scott joins the Racers after spending the 2022-23 season at Panola College where she had a strong Sophomore season helping lead her team to an 18-win year playing in the ultra-competitive NJCAA Division 1 Region 14 which is one of the toughest regions nationally. Scott's two best games came on the road where she scored 13 in a victory at Paris Junior College and 10 against Tyler Junior College who were the 2022 NJCAA Division 1 National Champions. Prior to Panola, Lyric had a great high school career at Many HS where her senior year she averaged 15 PPG, earned 1st Team all-conference, 2nd team all-state and District 3-2A MVP.
Vavro on Scott: "Lyric is a very athletic and scrappy guard who plays extremely hard. Her experience playing in such a tough league will help her immensely in her transition to the WHAC. We are super excited to see what Lyric can accomplish as a Lady Racer!"
The Lady Racers will also be brining back 4 players from the 2022-23 roster including All-WHAC Second Team guard Alysia Lawson who averaged 13 PPG.
"Our entire program is looking forward to having all of our newcomers on campus this fall," said Vavro, "and we are excited to have this group learn our culture-on and off the court-and get to work ahead of the 2023-24 campaign. We are confident that this group of newcomers will blend well with our returners, and will no doubt add depth and versatility at both ends of the floor."
Second year Head Coach Matt Vavro took over the Racer program last September, inheriting a team with just 7 varsity players that were coming off a 3-22 season, the most losses in program history. The Lady Racers were predicted to finish last in the WHAC in the 2022-23 preseason poll. Despite those predictions, The Lady Racers had a great year and will be looking to continue the positive momentum from the previous season. They will be coming off their best year since 2015 where they more than quadrupled the previous year's win total, making the postseason for the first time since 2018 where they fell in the WHAC quarterfinals on the road to second-seeded and national tournament qualifier Siena Heights in double OT. The Racers seventh place finish in the WHAC during the 2022-23 campaign was the best finish since the 2015-16 season with eight WHAC victories, the most conference wins since 2016. The Lady Racers nine home victories was the most since 2014 and they increased their offensive production by 23 points, averaging 70 PPG and setting numerous program records. Vavro and his Lady Racers will open up the 2023-24 campaign at The Garage on October 28 against Great Lakes Christian College.