MILWAUKEE, Wis. (October 30, 2017) – The Bryant & Stratton College women's basketball official season is set to begin with a tough first game taking place against the 2016-17 NJCAA Division III National Champions, Rock Valley College, on Wednesday, November 1. Tip-off will begin at 5:30pm as the Bobcats look to start the season out 1-0.

After a 17-10 record and finishing at the top of the Region IV last year, the Bobcats expect to achieve many goals this season.

"We set very high goals this year but we have no excuse not to reach them," Bobcats head coach Jeff Lorenz said. "I am excited to compete for a regional championship and then hopefully move on to the national tournament."

With the entire starting five returning this season, Lorenz and the coaching staff are anxious to watch the team grow throughout the year.

"We have a lot of talent and this group is very dedicated and committed to getting better every day," Lorenz said.

One of the talented and key returning players for the Bobcats is Ashley Williams (Auroa, IL) who was named First-Team All-Region last year. Williams won Region IV Player of the Week twice while averaging 15.9 points and 9.9 rebounds per game.

"I will lead by example this year," Williams said. "I will constantly hustle and make sure the rest of the team always gives one hundred percent."

Williams also has high expectations for the team this season and has been extremely satisfied with her teammates effort during practices.

"The goal is to make it to the national tournament," Williams said. "We have been doing a lot of shooting and defensive drills during practice and we are growing a lot together as a team."

Williams is not the only key returner for the Bobcats this season. The floor general, Kyla Pitts, (Milwaukee, WI) will also be a vital asset to the team's success.

"I will look to be a vocal leader this season as coach always reminds me that I am the floor general during the game," Pitts said.

Pitts averaged 14.5 points and three assist per game last season.

"Coach has had us doing a lot of conditioning, so we will be ready to go come first game of the season," Pitts said.

Williams and Pitts mark as just two of the five returning starters as sophomore guard, Kiara Donaldson (Milwaukee, WI), earned NJCAA All-American Second Team last year. Donaldson averaged 24.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game while shooting 52.3 percent from the field. The 5'7" guard earned Region IV Player of the Year, First Team All-Region and was Region IV Player of the Week three separate times.

Sophomre guard, Jazlyn Drake (Milwaukee, WI) will be returning this season as well. Drake averaged 12.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.4 assist per game last season. 

Sophomore Forward, Gabrielle Norwood (Milwaukee, WI) will be on the glass this season after averaging 8.0 points and an oustandsing 8.5 rebounds per game last year.

Other than the five returning players, Lorenz and his coaching staff have an oustanding group of first-year players that will look to make a contribution come first game.

Aneisha White (Guard-Milwaukee, WI), Alexis Stone (Guard/Forward-Milwaukee, WI), Ashley Quezaire (Guard-Milwaukee, WI) Ayisha Bentley-Junior (Guard-Miwaukee, WI), Cherokee Jones (Forward-Milwaukee, WI), Valerie Nzeakor (Guard-Collin, TX), Arianna Watkins (Forward-Milwaukee, WI), JaTaviah Conley (Guard/Forward-Milwaukee, WI), Maddy McCoy (Forward-Champaign, IL). 

Bryant & Stratton also has the entire coaching staff and team manager returning this season; Bill Johns (Assistant Coach), Emerald Kidd (Assistant Coach), and Julia Martin-Carter (Team Manager). 

Due to being a first year program last year, the Bobcats were not eligible to compete for the regional tournament but the team and coaching staff will definitely be focused on winning the region this year.

The first home game for the Bobcats takes place against College of Lake County on Tuesday November 21 at 5:15pm. All home games are held at Mount Mary University-Bloechl Recreation Center. The first region game takes place on the road against Black Hawk College-Moline on November 14^th.

Spectators can watch the Bobcats live streamed games HERE

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