The 2022-23 Braves had one of the best seasons in program history, finishing with overall record of 18-12 and placed sixth in the KCAC with a record of 13-9. Ottawa had the most wins since 2016-17 (18), best winning percentage since 2006-07 (.600), and defeated NCAA Division II William Jewell College.
The 2022-23 Braves also set five single game school records; scoring (109), assists (32), rebounds (69), free throw percentage (1.00), and 3-pt field goal attempts (41). OU also qualified for its first KCAC Tournament semifinal game since the 2015-16 season.
Ottawa returns 10 players from that 2022-23 team but have lost, to graduation, NAIA All-American
Nicole Brown and Second Team All-KCAC selection
Cierra Brown.
Nicole Brown averaged a double-double, 16.7 points and 11.7 rebounds. She had 52 blocks and 23 steals. Brown shot 52.7 percent from the floor, 22.2 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 66.1 percent from the free throw line.
Cierra Brown averaged 14.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. She is shot 48.6 percent from the floor, 42.6 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 78 percent from the free throw line.
Returners from the 2022-23 team are
Jayla Johnson (Sr.),
Kennedy Bankett (Jr.),
Hailey Henry (Sr.),
Janiyah Hendricks (Jr.),
Jordan Bianco (Jr.),
Katelyn Alatini (Sr.),
Desiree Marshall-Penny (So.),
Tiyani Rollins (So.),
Sydney Scott (So.), and
Kiersten Markos (So.).
The Braves have a mixture of transfers and freshmen to its list of newcomers for 2023-24. Tootie Allen (Sr.) New Haven, Conn./Post University |
Kimberly Cruz (Fr.) El Paso, Texas/Canutillo |
Cooper Hilton (Fr.) Coweta, Okla./Coweta |
Nayeli Acosta (Jr.) Hereford, Texas/Northwest College |
Nikole Schnell (Fr.) Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs |
Abby Dietsche (Jr.) Highland, Ark./North Arkansas College.
Monday's game is the first meeting between Ottawa University and Kansas Christian College.
In 30 games last season, the Braves averaged 68.9 points, 39.6 rebounds, and 13.2 assists per game. Ottawa shot 41.9 percent from the floor, 30.5 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 72.2 percent from the free throw line.
OU finished the season ranked 47th in the NAIA in defensive rebounds per game (28.4), 49th in blocks per game (3.4), and 53rd in opponent field goal percentage (.373).
Ottawa was 10-5 in Wilson Field House in 2022-23. OU averaged 71.3 points per game and shot 40.3 percent from the floor, 28.7 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 74.5 percent from the free throw line.
Kansas Christian College is 0-2 to start the 2023-24 season. The Falcons fell 76-32 to Randall University on Oct. 26 and William Woods University, 82-31, on Oct. 28.
Laura Guillamat-Ribo leads KCC in scoring and rebounding, averaging 13 points and 10 rebounds per game.
As a team, the Falcons are averaging 31.5 points per game while allowing 79 points per game.
