The Braves return 11 players from last season's 15-14 team. OU finished seventh in the KCAC in 2023-24 and earned back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2013-14, 2014-15. The 15 victories are the most by a first year coaching staff in program history. OU has seven newcomers to its program.
Returners:
Kimberly Cruz,
Kennedy Bankett,
Kaelynn Duncan,
Tiyani Rollins,
Janiyah Hendricks,
Nayeli Acosta,
Abby Dietsche,
Desiree Marshall-Penny,
Katelyn Alatini,
Sydney Scott, and
Kiersten Markos. Newcomers:
Anna Eldridge,
Grace McPhail,
Kiana Peveler,
Dominique Schutte,
Naqua Barnett,
Nora Ford,
Abbie Sextro.
Ottawa was selected to finish seventh in the KCAC by the conference coaches and eighth by the conference media. In both polls, Tabor was selected first followed by Friends University and the University of Saint Mary.
In 2023-24 Ottawa averaged 71.2 points, 36.7 rebounds, and 11.8 assists per game. OU shot 39.4 percent from the floor, 33.7 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 72.3 percent from the free throw line.
Last season,
Kennedy Bankett led the Braves in scoring. She averaged 14.3 points per game and shot 55.6 percent from the floor, 45.5 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 85.3 percent from the free throw line. Bankett was named Second Team All-KCAC.
Abby Dietsche, whose season was cut short by injury, averaged 13 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Before her injury, she was leading the NAIA in block shots (25).
Katelyn Alatini played in 27 games and made 24 starts for the Braves. She averaged 10.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.
Janiyah Hendricks is the fourth returning Brave who scored in double figures, finishing an injury shortened season by averaging 10 points per game. She shot 40.8 percent from the floor, 41.7 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 73.9 percent from the free throw line. Hendricks led OU in assists, averaging 3.4 per game.
The Braves finished the 2023-24 season ranked 45th in the NAIA in field goals attempted per game, 24th in 3-pt field goals made per game (8.2), 41st in 3-pt field goals attempted per game (24.4), 30th in 3-pt field goal percentage (.337), 34th in opponent turnovers per game (19.3), 50th in steals per game (10.3), and 33rd in 3-pt field goals total-attempts (239-709).
OU has won three straight season and home openers. This is the second time that Ottawa has opened the season against Barclay, the first time was on Oct. 27, 2022. The last time OU lost a season opener was on Oct. 31, 2020. Ottawa lost 77-66 to Park University in Parkville, Mo. OU's last home opening loss was on Nov. 4, 2020. The Spires of the University of Saint Mary defeated the Braves 82-74.
Ottawa has a record of 2-0 against Barclay College and is 1-0 versus the Bears in Wilson Field House. The last time the two teams played against each other was on Oct. 27, 2022 in Wilson Field House. OU won the game, 108-34. The first meeting between the two teams happened on Nov. 13, 2021. Ottawa took a 62-48 victory over the Bears in Haviland, Kan.
Barclay College finished the 2023-24 season with an overall record of 7-14. Vivian Muniz led the Bears in scoring, averaging 6.8 points per game. She shot 27 percent from the floor and 67 percent from the free throw line. Viviana Rios played in 19 games and averaged 5.1 points per game for Barclay.
