UC distaff cagers expect repeat as league champs

Mike Matthews, head coach of the University of Cincinnati Clermont College women’s basketball team, welcomes the return of nine of the players he lettered a year ago from a team that finished third in the United States in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association.

He lost two graduated seniors from a team that earned an enviable 28-7 record.

“We have more size this year and our senior leadership is very good,” said the Cougars’ coach. “We’ll have to wait and see how well our size does since it comes from two of our freshmen. . .

“We our inexperienced in some places and we need to replace our best defensive player from last year, Shauneece Shipman, who played guard for us.”

Last year the tallest of the Cougars were just 5-feet, 9-inches tall, but two freshmen who both stand 6-1 could definitely rectify the lack of size problem this season. The tall twosome consists of Stacie Lee, a graduate of Lakota West, and Rachel Mullins, a graduate of Eastern High School in Brown County.

The senior leaders are Clermont countian Jordan Johnson a graduate from Clermont Northeastern High and Allison David, an alumae from Winton Woods.

Early on, the Red and Black have defeated Wright State University – Lake 83-51 and Southern State Community College 78-37 and they were defeated by Brescia University 67-62.

Matthews expects another banner year. His charges are the defending champions of the Ohio Collegiate Athletic Conference (OCAC). Last year the Red and Black played in two leagues and were also the champions of the Ohio Regional Campus Conference (ORCC).

This year the Cougars will compete in just one conference, the OCAC.

The members of the ORCC are Akron University – Wayne Warriors, Miami University – Hamilton Harriers, Miami University – Middletown Thunderhawks, Ohio State University – Lima Barons, Ohio State University – Mansfield Mavericks, Ohio State University – Newark Titans, Ohio University – Chillicothe Hilltoppers, Ohio University – Eastern Panthers, Ohio University – Lancaster Cougars, Ohio University – Zanesville Tracers, and Wright State University – Lake Lakers.

“The toughest part of the season for us is going to be the first half since we’re playing so many big NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) schools. . .

“Our goal is always to win the league and to qualify for the national tournament. This year we’ll see if our size takes us further than we’ve ever gone.” Matthews concluded.

Cougars’ Roster

Brooke Catauro (5-feet, 6-inches, freshman guard, Goshen High School graduate); Caitlin Cammeresi (5-8, freshman guard, Amelia High School graduate); Jordan Johnson (5-9, senior forward, Clermont Northeastern High School graduate); Cayla Stutz (5-8, junior guard, Felicity High School graduate); Marisa Stutz (5-9, sophomore guard, Felicity High School graduate); Portia Cochrum (5-6, sophomore guard, Western Hills High School graduate); Maryia Compton (5-4, freshman guard, Lockland High School graduate); Shannon Lorenze (5-6, sophomore guard, Gallatin County, Ky., High School graduate); Jordan Beasley (5-6, freshman guard, Adams County, Ohio, Christian High School graduate); Cindy Votel (5-4, junior guard, Bellevue, Ky., High School graduate), Alyssa Kidd (5-6, freshman guard, Anderson High School graduate); Kayla Howard (5-10, sophomore forward, Western Brown High School graduate); Sarah Stratman (5-9, junior forward, Western Pike High School graduate); Allison David (5-5, senior guard, Winton Woods High School graduate); Regan Hauke, 5-10, junior forward, Eastern High School graduate); Stacie Lee (6-1, freshman forward, Lakota West High School graduate); and Rachel Mullins (6-1, freshman forward, Eastern High School graduate).

The assistant coach is Rick Hosea.

Ohio Collegiate Athletic Conference

The University of Cincinnati Clermont College is a member of the Ohio Collegiate Athletic Conference that was established in 2009. In addition to the Cougars, the other members of the conference include Clark State Community College Eagles, Springfield, Ohio; Ohio Christian University Trailblazers, Canal Winchester, Ohio; Ohio State University – Marion Scarlet Wave, Marion, Ohio; Southern State Community College Patriots, Hillsboro, Ohio; Temple Baptist College Rams, Cincinnati; and World Harvest Bible College Warriors, Canal Winchester, Ohio.

Cougars’ Schedule

Dec. 10 at Asbury College, Dec. 11 at Kentucky Christian University, Dec. 16 Valor Christian College, Dec. 17 at Alice Lloyd College, Dec. 19 Ohio State University – Mansfield, Dec. 21 Berea College, Dec. 31 Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Jan. 3 at Miami University – Hamilton, Jan. 5 Clark State Community College, Jan. 8 at Midway College, Jan 10 at

Southern State Community College, Jan. 12 Saint Mary of the Woods College, Jan. 16 Ohio State University – Mansfield, Jan. 18 at Ohio State University – Middletown, Jan. 22 University of Akron – Wayne, Jan. 25 at Clark State Community College, Jan. 29 Ohio University – Chillicothe, Jan. 30 at Ohio State University – Mansfield, Feb. 2 at Ohio Christian University, Feb. 9 at Miami University – Hamilton, Feb. 11 Valor Christian College, Feb. 12 at Saint Mary of the Woods College, Feb. 14 Ohio University – Chillicothe, Feb. 16-19 Ohio Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament at Southern State Community College, and Feb. 22 Kentucky Christian.