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Hinkle Signs with Lady Oaks
Coach Clint Weddle has announced the signing of Shannon Hinkle who will join the 2005-2006 Lady Oaks sophomore class with returnees Jodi Hobbs, a North Knox graduate and Molly Murphy, from Burlington, KY. "Shannon is a 5'9" combo guard who plays with a ton of intensity on both ends of the floor," stated Coach Weddle. "We are very excited about Shannon's ability to play a variety of spots on the floor and her strong work ethic. Being able to add a player with a year of college experience and strong leadership skills will be beneficial to our young team." Hinkle was a standout at Vincennes Lincoln High School leading the Lady Alices to an undefeated regular season and Big Eight Conference Championship as a sophomore. Hinkle transfers to OCU from Vincennes University as a sophomore.
LADY OAKS
RECRUITING CLASS FOR 2005-2006
NOW COMPLETE!
Having already signed Karissa Walter, a 5'5"
guard from Boone Grove High School and Allison Jackson, a 6’0”
combo post player from Silver Creek High School, during the early signing
period, the OCU Women’s Basketball team added four more recruits
during the late signing period to finalize the roster for the 2005-2006
season. The 2005 recruiting class will join eight returning Lady Oaks
players, lead by Senior Erin Joslin and Junior Emily Miller.
KARISSA WALTER
Karissa Walter finished a stellar career for Head Coach Candy Wilson with 1,224 career points. Walter was named the Northwest Indiana Times Player of the Year for the 2004-2005 season. Walter was part of the Hoosier Basketball Magazine Top 40 Workout along with future OCU teammate Chelsea Miller. Walter’s Senior Season saw the Lady Wolves finish with a 21-2 record. “K” averaged 17.3 points per game, 6.7 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 5.7 steals a game. Walter shot 57.8% from the field, 72.8% from the free-throw line, and finished her senior season with 153 rebounds, 140 assists, 130 steals, and 398 points.
“Karissa did it all during her Senior year,” said Coach Weddle. “When I had the opportunity to watch Karissa play this season she was everything we expected and more. Karissa is a natural born leader on and off the floor and the type of individual that makes a team go. The only way to describe “K” is to say that she plays her heart out on both ends of the floor, leads team each and every day and does it all with a smile on her face. It will be great to see her and former Boone Grove High School standout Kim Sliwa, Boone Grove High School’s All-Time Leading Scorer, step on the court together for the next two seasons.”
ALLISON JACKSON
Allison Jackson, who signed a national
letter of intent to play basketball for the Lady Oaks poses with her parents,
coaches and administrators at her signing on Thursday.
Sitting (L to R) Rick Jackson, Allison Jackson, and Jan Jackson
Standing (L to R) Athletic Director, Larry Richmer, Coach Dave Chanley,
and Principal Mike Crabtree
Allison Jackson finished up her Senior season for Head Coach Dave Chanley
as one of the hardest working student-athletes Silver Creek High School
has ever seen. Allison finished up the 2004-2005 season averaging 14.1
points a game and bringing down 6.2 rebounds a contest. Jackson was selected
the Clark County Player of the Year for her performance this past season
and competed in the District All-Star game in Paoli “Allison is
a very talented basketball player that will add to the inside-outside
attack next season, said Coach Weddle.” “Allison was the first
member of the 2005 recruiting class to commit to our program and will
do an outstanding job leading this group of players. Allison is a mature
young lady that leads by example and has a knack for the ball and the
basket on both ends of the floor. Jackson has a great feel for the game
and what is going on around her. We were very impressed each night we
watch “A.J”. play and how she carried herself in every situation
on the floor this season.”
CHELSEA MILLER
Chelsea Miller, a 5’9” guard from Shenandoah High School has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend OCU in the fall. Chelsea averaged 14 points per game and shot 75% from the free-throw line for Head Coach Todd Salkoski and the Lady Raiders during her senior season. Chelsea finished her high school career as the all-time leading scorer in school history with 1,403 total points, finished with 243 career steals, and connected on 183 three-point field goals in four years. Throughout her four years Chelsea helped lead the Lady Raiders to three state championship games, winning two Indiana States Titles (2003 & 2005). Over four years Chelsea was a part of 91 wins and only 15 losses. Miller’s accomplishments for the 2004-2005 season include the following: Hoosier Basketball Magazine Preseason 2nd Team All-State Selection, a Midwest Basketball Tremendous 26 Selection, a Indiana Top 40 Workout Invitee, was a member of the Indiana Junior North All-Star Team, was selected as the New Castle Courier Times Area Co-Player of the Year.
Lady Oaks Head Coach Clint Weddle had this to say about Chelsea, “Chelsea is a threat to score from anywhere on the floor and has one of the purest shots of any player we had an opportunity to see this season. She is patient with the basketball and makes high quality decisions with the ball. Chelsea has been a part of a great basketball tradition at Shenandoah High School, has a great work ethic, and is a wonderful student. We are really looking forward to seeing Chelsea in the Blue and White next fall.”
MOLLY MAACK
Molly Maack, a 6’1” forward, signed a National Letter of Intent to attend OCU in the fall. Molly played for Coach Kurt Gassensmith at Noblesville High School. As a senior Molly averaged 12.3 points, pulled down 4.3 rebounds, and shot 59.3% from the field during 22 games. Maack scored 271 points in her senior season. During the 2004-2005 season, Maack was a 1st Team Hoosier Crossroad Conference Selection, received 1st Team All-County Honors, was selected to the Noblesville Ledger 1st Team, was the Noblesville Ledger Athlete of the Year for Girls Basketball, was an Indianapolis Star All-Metro North Honorable Mention Honoree, and was selected by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association as a 2005 Girls Academic Honorable Mention Award Winner.
“Molly is will be a great asset to our team and Oakland City University,” said Coach Weddle. “Molly is sound fundamentally and the style of play Coach Gassensmith uses at Noblesville High School is similar to what we have implemented in our program.” Molly runs the floor well, is a strong physical player, a great student, and has all the attributes to excel on the floor as a Lady Oak. It is apparent that Molly makes those around her better players and encourages people on the court. Maack’s versatility and all out style of play is something we look forward to seeing next season.”
KRISTI MCVEY
Kristi McVey, a 5’9” guard from Southwestern High School has signed a National Letter of Intent to join the OCU Women’s Basketball Program in the fall. Kristi played her high school hoops for Head Coach Donna Cheatham who has won state titles with two different Indiana High School Basketball teams (Scottsburg / Southwestern Hanover). McVey was part of the 2002 Southwestern Hanover High School State Championship Team and the 2003 State Finals Runner-Up Squad. As a junior Kristi averaged 18.9 points a contest, grabbed 6.2 rebounds, shot 84% from the free-throw line, and 42% from the field. During the 2004-2005 campaign Kristi scored her 1,000th career point, averaged 16.9 points a game, grabbed 4.9 rebounds, and dished 3.2 assists, and lead her squad to a 16-9 record.
“Kristi is the type of player that does a number of little things well all over the floor and is extremely basketball smart, said OCU Head Coach Clint Weddle. Our coaching staff continually talks about showing poise on the floor and Kristi is an example of that. Kristi played for a great high school program at Southwestern Hanover, which is as well prepared and as well coached as anyone and experienced a ton of success. Coach Cheatham gets the most out of her players year in and year out in a wonderfully disciplined system. Kristi carriers herself very confidently on the floor and leads others in so many ways, she is always a play ahead of what is happening next. Kristi is a versatile player and I our fans will be excited to see Kristi develop over the next four seasons.”
2004-2005
SEASON IN REVIEW
The Lady Oaks finished the season
with a 17-12 overall record in the first season of Head Coach Clint Weddle
guiding the program. This marks the first season the Lady Oaks have climbed
over the .500 mark since 1999 and equals the best NCCAA Tournament finish
(3rd place finish), since the 1993 campaign (2nd place finish).
Coach Weddle received NCCAA Mid-East Region Coach of the Year honors during
his first season with Oakland City University.
NCCAA TOURNAMENT NEWS!!! ---
The 2004-2005 Oakland City University Women’s Basketball Team wrapped up the season on Saturday March 12 with a 67-64 victory over Hope International in the NCCAA Tournament at Frankfort, Kentucky to take home Third Place in the Tournament. Erin Evans lead the Lady Oaks in scoring with 21 points while Katie Miller finished with 14 points and 8 rebounds. Tanya Smith continued her tournament success on both ends of the floor playing 40 minutes and earning All-Tournament Team Honors.
Seniors guards Tanya Smith and Erin Evans were
selected to the NCCAA
All-Tournament Team for their efforts during the three game stand.
On Friday the Lady Oaks were defeated by North Greenville University 89-71in the semi-final match-up of the event. Erin Evans led the Lady Oaks with 24 points while Emily Miller added 12. Senior guard Tanya Smith scored 13 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, dished 6 assists, and had a game high 4 steals.
On Thursday, during the first round of the NCCAA Tournament the Lady Oaks battled to a 57-52 win over Trinity International University. The Lady Oaks were lead in scoring by Erin Evans with 18 points, while the senior guard also grabbed 8 rebounds and finished with 4 assists. Katie Miller added 13 points in the first round victory. Sophomore Emily Miller finished with 8 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists. Junior Erin Joslin finished with 8 points in the winning effort.
All-Americans
Erin Evans was selected as a NCCAA Second Team
All-American for her performance during the regular season. Evans finished
her career as Oakland City University’s 3rd All-Time leading scorer
with 1,540 career points, set the school record for consecutive
free-throws made (29), finished the season with 546 points (4th all-time
for a single season), lead the team with an average of 18.8 points per
game during her senior season, and wrapped up a stellar four year career
averaging 13.6 points per game throughout. Erin’s selection as an
NCCAA Second Team All-American was the second straight season she received
the honor.
Senior standout Katie Miller was selected as a NCCAA Honorable Mention All-American and a NCCAA Academic All-American while carrying an overall 3.94 GPA studying elementary and special education. Katie finished her career as the 9th All-Time leading scorer in OCU history with 1095 career points and was a co-captain this season. During her senior campaign Miller averaged 13.6 points per game and 6.24 rebounds a contest. Katie connected on 51.4% of her field goals attempts, 42.1% from three, and 78.5% from the free-throw line. For her career Miller was a 46.5% field goal shooter, averaged 10. 6 points per game throughout, and connected on 74.5% of attempts from the free-throw line.
Lady Oaks Tournament Bound! – All-Region
Team Selected
The 2004-2005 Lady Oaks finish the regular season
and head to the NCCAA Tournament in Frankfort Kentucky March 10-12, as
the Mid-East Region Champions!
Entering post-season play Tanya Smith, Katie Miller, and Erin Evans have
all been selected as member of the NCCAA Mid-East Region Team.
COACH WEDDLE’S COMMENTS
ON THE 2004-2005 CAMPAIGN
“This was an exciting season where we accomplished many of our goals and never quit working hard while having a great time during the course of the year. We are very proud of the effort and attitude this group of young women showed during the season. Off the floor this was a group of student athletes who carried on the tradition of Oakland City University by achieving success in the classroom. Not only was this a great group to work with during basketball, this was also a great team to spend time with on the road, and whenever we had the opportunity to be together. We would like to thank the fans for all of their support at home and on the road. We had a great time starting the pre-season in Hawaii all the way to finishing the season with a win and a third place finish in the NCCAA Tournament. The coaching staff would like to compliment our four seniors: Jennifer Benson, Tanya Smith, Erin Evans, and Katie Miller and wish them the best of luck upon graduation. I feel this season has laid the groundwork for the successes the coaching staff and the Lady Oaks look to achieve on into the future. We came into this season with the intent to instill a tremendous amount of pride in the Oakland City University Women’s Basketball program in a way where hard work became the norm and team building was emphasized. Based on this seasons progress on and off the floor and how well our team carried itself, I look forward to and feel the opportunity is here to continue to strengthen our program, carry on the traditions of the past, and build a new path of success with the Lady Oaks Women’s Basketball Program."
Coach Clint Weddle, Head Coach
OCU Women's Basketball
Walter chooses OCU
Coach Clint Weddle announced on Monday that Karissa Walter, a 5'5" senior from Valparaiso, Indiana has signed a national letter of intent to continue her basketball career for the Lady Oaks during the 2004-05 season. Walter, who was invited to both the Indiana top 100 workout and the IHSAA Hall of Fame as a 2004 Trememdous 26 honoree (13 boys and 13 girls are chosen statewide to attend) averaged 15 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds and 5 steals last season for Boone Grove High School. Walter, who led the Lady Wolves to a 17-5 record a year ago shot a remarkable 57.5% from the field last season.
Coach Clint Weddle had these comments to make regarding Walter. "Karissa is the type of player that can impact a game in every way possible, and I think that is evident by the success of the team's she has been a part of. She was at the top of our recruiting chart all summer and we are very happy to sign her. With Jackson and now Walter signing, we have the makings of a top notch recuriting class. I know our fans will enjoy watching those two play together for the next four years."
Lady Oaks Sign Jackson
Allison Jackson, who recently signed a national letter of intent to play basketball for the Lady Oaks poses with her parents, coaches and administrators at her signing on Thursday.
Sitting (L to R) Rick Jackson, Allison Jackson, and Jan Jackson
Standing (L to R) Athletic Director, Larry Richmer, Coach Dave Chanley, and Principal Mike Crabtree
Silver Creek senior is first to sign during early signing period
Allison Jackson, a senior at Silver Creek High School in Sellersburg, Indiana has signed a national letter of intent to continue her basketball playing career at Oakland City University. As a junior, Allison was selected to the All Mid-Southern Conference Team after shooting a team high 49% from the field and averaging 13 points, six rebounds, and two steals per game.
Lady Oaks head coach Clint Weddle had these comments regarding Jackson, "Allison does a tremendous job in the classroom and comes from a great family. She is fundamentally sound and her leadership skills shine on the court. We feel that she will be a great fit for our program as well as an asset to Oakland City University."
Jackson is the first signee for the Lady Oaks during the early signing period.