May 5, 2010
     At tonight’s Athletic Awards Banquet, these players were given the following accolades for this past season.

                             Most Valuable Player - Aslea Williams

                             Most Improved Player - Sierra Morris

                             Team Leader Award - SirShawna Dowdy

                             Coaches Award - Zipporah Tidwell
     Aslea Williams was also her team's nominee, and the winner of, Lakeland's Female Athlete of the Year Award.

Congratulations to first year coach Gary Hicks who was named Coach of the Year in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference.

April 1, 2010
     Today, the NJCAA announced its All-American teams for the 2009-2010 season.  Ten players were selected to the first, second and third teams from nominations submitted from throughout the nation.  The selections were made at the NJCAA annual meeting by the basketball selection committee for each division.
     Lakeland Community College is proud to announce that Aslea Williams was named a second team All-American. 
     This sophomore post player was the only Ohio Community College Athletic Conference Division II player to make the All-American list.
     Williams led the Lakers to a 21-7 regular season record, and a 10-4, third place finish in the OCCAC.  She led the team with 17.57 points and 12.08 rebounds per game this season.  She finished her Lakeland career with 703 points, 506 rebounds and 56 blocks.
     She was also recently named to the All-Region team of the NJCAA's Region XII.
     This criminal justice major is being heavily recruited by NCAA Division I and Division II programs.

Ohio Community College Athletic Conference
Basketball Post Season Honors
March 2010
     Congratulations to Aslea Williams who was named the OCCAC Player of the Year.  Williams was the leading scorer in the conference averaging 19.0 points per game in OCCAC games.  She average 12.5 rebounds per game which placed her fourth in the conference.  She had nine assists on the season and averaged 2.2 steals per game.  Williams had 17 blocks on the season, for a 1.3 blocks per game average. She shot 48.9 percent from the field and 56.7 percent from the charity stripe.
     Zipporah Tidwell was named to the OCCAC second team and SirShawna Dowdy was an honorable mention. 

Wednesday, February 17, 2010
      The Lady Lakers ran into foul trouble in the second half, and fell to nationally ranked Owens Community College 57-74 tonight.  However, the Lakers came out strong and led at the break 36-32.
     “The girls were executing the game plan perfectly,” said Coach Gary Hicks.  “We were able to control their big girl (Brittany Darling) in the paint.  Aslea (Williams) and Zipporah (Tidwell) were putting up a wall, and she could not score.”
     “In addition, we were doing a great job on the boards,” added Hicks.  “At half time, we were in control of the game.”
     Unfortunately, with the second half came an increase in the involvement of the zebras, and the fouls began to add up for Williams and Tidwell.  Unable to control that paint, the Lakers began to fall behind and could not climb back into the contest.
     Aslea Williams posted her usual double/double with 19 points and 12 rebounds.  She also contributed a block and a steal.  SirShawn Dowdy threw in 15 points. 
     “I walked out of that gym feeling like we got a win,” said Hicks.  “We played really tough.”   He looks forward to a potential rematch with Owens in post-season play.
     This weekend brings another tough game as the Lakers travel to Cincinnati to face the Surge.  Cincinnati is 18-8 on the season and 10-1 in the conference.  Their only conference loss was to Owens, who moved up to second in the NJCAA national poll this week. 

Tuesday, February 16 -- From the OCCAC website                                                                
Women's Basketball
Lakeland's Williams named OCCAC women's basketball player of the week
Lakeland Community College sophomore forward/post Aslea Williams has been named the OCCAC women's basketball player of the week. Williams scored 33 points and grabbed 18 rebounds in two games last week. She also had one steal and one block. Aslea shot 42.9 percent (9-21) from the floor and 71.4 percent (15-21) from the free throw line. The OCCAC congratulates Aslea on the award.

Monday, February 15, 2010
     The Lady Lakers are facing their biggest week of the season.  The team is currently 19-5 overall and 8-2 in the OCCAC.  They are in third place and face the two teams that handed them their only conference losses, and who are ahead of them in the standings.
     On Wednesday the Lakers travel to Perrysburg to face Owens CC.  The Express is currently 24-2 overall and 10-0 in the OCCAC.  They are ranked #4 in the national NJCAA poll.  In their first meeting this season, the Lakers fell 52-65.  While Aslea Williams posted her usual double/double in that contest; the Lakers did not control the boards as they usually do.  They were out-rebounded on their own boards 24-28 and overall 42-52.
     It doesn’t get any easier as the Lakers travel to Cincinnati on Saturday to face the second place Surge.  Cinci is currently 12-8 and 9-1 in conference play.  The Surge took the first contest 63-74.  Again, the Lakers were out-rebounded in this contest, but also struggled defensively as they allowed two players, to score 20 or more points.
     Like the Lakers, the Surge has been drawing attention in the national poll, but has been unable to break into the Top Twenty.
     The Lakers are coming off two home victories; however, Coach Gary Hicks was not impressed with his team’s play last week.  In both games, the team only gave up 23 first half points, but struggled offensively.  Against Tri-C the team shot less than 20% from the floor in the first half; and against Edison only 30% in both halves.
     The good news in those games was that Edison only shot 29% for the game, and while Tri-C shot better than the Lakers (40% to 35%), the Lakers took ten more shots.
     The ladies continue to rely on their defense and strong rebounding, to pull out victories; however, the team is learning that if they are going to rely so heavily on put-backs to generate offense, they need to control the glass.
     Against Tri-C, Williams posted 24 points and 12 rebounds and Zipporah Tidwell had 14 points, three steals and two blocked shots.  Sierra Morris fell just short of her own double/double with nine points and nine rebounds.
     In the Edison contest, Tidwell had the double/double with 14 points and ten boards; while SirShawna Dowdy had 15 points.
     In both contests last week, the Lakers out-rebounded their opponent.

S.T.A.R. Student Athletes: Fall 2009
Congratulations to Danielle Lewis, Zipporah Tidwell and Aslea Williams who each achieved a 3.0 grade point average during the fall semester, while carrying a minimum of 12 credit hours. 


January 30, 2010
     A pair of double/doubles, including a super double/double by center Aslea Williams, helped the Lady Lakers clinch a 69-68 road victory at Columbus State CC today.
     Williams had 29 points, 20 rebounds, four blocks, seven steals and made the game winning free throw in the final seconds to secure the victory.  The Lakers scored most of their points in the front court in this one, as fellow forward Zipporah Tidwell contributed 14 points and 13 rebounds.
     The Lakers had a hard time getting started in this one, and found themselves down by 11 at the half.  However, the team kicked it into high gear in the second half.  Before seven minutes were gone, the Lakers had pulled ahead.
     The Lakers pulled ahead, but the Cougars would not go quietly.  With a minute fifteen left, the Lakers were down by one.  Coach Hicks called a time out and drew up the final play.
     Guard Danielle Lewis drove the lane and dished off to Williams.  She missed the shot, but was fouled.  She hit both the free throws to put the Lakers ahead for good.
     The Lakers are 16-5 and 5-2 in the OCCAC after dropping a 52-65 game against Owens CC earlier in the week.  Owens is currently ranked fourth in the NJCAA national poll.
      The team starts their February on the road, playing at Lorain County CC on Wednesday and Sinclair CC on Saturday.

January 9, 2010
     The Lady Lakers opened conference play with a 60-58 victory over Sinclair Community College (11-3, 1-1 in the OCCAC).  Like the Lakers, the Tartan Pride has been hovering at the edge of the national poll.
     The Lakers were led by Aslea Williams who put in 17 points, while grabbing 14 rebounds.  SirShawna Dowdy and Zipporah Tidwell scored 14 and 12 respectively. 
     Overall, the team had a stellar shooting effort, converting 51% of their shots.  Coming into the contest, both teams were shooting 43% from the floor on the season.  Sinclair finished the game with a 39% shooting percentage.

          As a team, the Lakers continue to dominate the boards, out-rebounding Sinclair 38-27.

          The Lady Lakers (12-3, 1-0 OCCAC) will host Lorain County Community College on Wednesday at 5:30. 

December 12 and 13, 2009
     The Lady Lakers picked up two more victories this weekend in New York State, to raise their season record to 11-2.  The ladies have put together a pretty impressive season so far, but Coach Gary Hicks feels that they are finally hitting their stride.
     “This was the first game this season that we put a total game together,” said Hicks after his team’s 74-59 victory over Erie CC on Saturday.  “Players finally grasp what we want them to do, and what’s expected of them.”
     The Lakers started the Erie game strong, and were up by as many as thirteen.  However, the Kats made a solid run and pulled within five, to 33-28 at the half.
     The Lakers regrouped in the locker room, and came out in a full court press.  They quickly pulled out to a double digit lead, from which the Kats could not recover.
     SirShawna Dowdy led all scorers with fourteen points; this guard also contributed six rebounds and three assists.  Tiara Roberts broke out of a shooting slump to post thirteen points.  Zipporah Tidwell posted eleven points and eight rebounds; while Aslea Williams recovered from a rough first half on the boards to pull down twelve rebounds for the game, while putting in nine points.
     On Sunday, the team continued its solid play by posting a 95-69 victory over Alfred State who they had beaten 84-68 earlier this season.
     Tidwell and Roberts each posted a double/double in that contest.  Each grabbed ten rebounds, while Tidwell scored a game leading twenty-seven points and Roberts tossed in twenty-one.
     “I was proud to see our growth this weekend,” said Hicks.  “As a Coach, that’s what you want to see heading into conference play.”
     The Lakers have one more independent contest before the holiday break, and the beginning of conference play in January.  They will return to New York this weekend to face Genesse Community College on Saturday, December 19 at 1:00.  This will be the second meeting of the season between the two teams.  Lakeland won that first contest in a hard-fought 86-81 home victory.


December 6, 2009
     The Lady Lakers move to 9-2 on the season after winning the TJ Memorial Tournament at Lakeland Community College this weekend.
     The ladies beat the JV team from Notre Dame College 81-49 on the opening night of the tournament.
     The team was led by Zipporah Tidwell who posted her first double/double of the season with twenty-one points and ten rebounds.  Aslea Williams posted her own double/double with ten points and rebounds.  Aysia Mickles-Turner had sixteen points and Danielle Lewis tossed in thirteen.
     The Lakers outshot the Falcons 46% to 30% from the floor, and 59% to 50% from the line.  The Lakers also won the battle of the boards 53-50. 
     In the championship game, the Lakers defeated the team from Alfred State College 84-68.  Alfred State came into the contest at 8-4 after beating Glen Oaks Community College 74-72 in the preliminary contest.
     The Lakers dominated the boards, 64-46 and had three players rebound in double figures.  Williams and Tidwell each grabbed eleven, while point guard SirShawna Dowdy managed to pull in ten.  
     Dowdy led all scorers with twenty five points, while Williams threw in twenty-two and Mickles-Turner had ten.  The Lakers shot a solid 42% from the floor.
     Alfred State was led by Brittney Brooks with nineteen points and eight rebounds.
     Dowdy was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament and Williams and Tidwell were each placed on the All-Tournament Team. 
     Next weekend the Lakers travel to New York to take on Erie Community College and Alfred State College, who will each be looking to avenge previous defeats at the hands of the Lakers.

November 18, 2009
     The Lady Lakers knocked another team from the ranks of the unbeaten with their 77-59 win over Erie Community College.
     Guard Danielle Lewis played a strong 35 minutes as she picked the Kats for five steals, dished out five assists and scored ten points.  The diminutive Lewis even managed to grab seven rebounds.
     The Lakers were led by Aslea Williams who scored 22 points and pulled down eight rebounds.  Williams was eight for fourteen from the floor and six for seven from the line.
     Asia Mickles-Turner had eleven points, Zipporah Tidwell had nine and Tiara Roberts and Sierra Morris each had eight.
     The ladies will take their 6-1 record to Monroe Community College this weekend for a two game tournament. 

November 14, 2009
     The Lady Lakers beat Genesse Community College 86-81 to raise their record to 5-1.  The Genesse Cougars were ranked 13^th by the NJCAA coming into the game, and were the second nationally ranked team that the Lakers have beaten in this season.  
     The Cougars had no answer for sophomore Aslea Williams.  She dominated the boards with 18 rebounds; controlled the paint with three blocks; was near perfect from the charity stripe, making ten of eleven; and was solid inside, converting on nine of fifteen shots; for 28 points.
     Fellow sophomore Tiara Roberts also scored a double/double for the Lakers, with ten points and twelve rebounds.
     Both teams started the game with a full-court press, which led to some sloppy play at the outset.  When Lakeland converted off a SirShawna Dowdy steal at the top of the arc, eight minutes into the game, the Lakers took a bit of control at 23-16.
     Both teams pulled off their presses, but the Cougars continued to aggressively go after the ball, which gave the Lakers several wide open passes and easy inside baskets.
     When the Lakers ran their offense, they were able to get the ball down low to Williams who used her spin move to out maneuver two, and sometimes three, defenders.
     The Lakers took a 47-39 lead into half-time, but the Cougars were far from finished.
     Genesse came out with an 8-2 run after the break, before the Lakers were able to get their offense back on track with a Roberts drive to the hole.  The Lakers continued to move the ball and use a combination of drives to the basket and inside passes to frustrate the Cougars.
     A pair of Genesse technical fouls allowed the Lakers to pull it out to a ten point lead, but the Cougars came fighting back.  By the ten minute mark, it was again a two point game, and the fouls were piling up for both teams.
     Coach Gary Hicks slowed down the Lakers’ offense, but both teams seemed to stall out with the slow down and the score remained 70-67, Lakers, for several minutes.
     Genesse pulled within one to make it 70-69, when they scored off an inbounds play.  Sophomore forward Zipporah Tidwell was fouled going to the hole and made one of her subsequent free throws.
     The Cougar’s Kristie Laurey then came back with a short jumper to tie it at 71, before Tidwell was fouled again going inside.  Tidwell converted the three point play to make it 74-71 Lakers.
     On the Lakers’ next possession a missed three resulted in a Williams’ rebound and put back.  The Lakers went up 76-71 with about three and half minutes left, and the teams exchanged baskets and fouls shots the rest of the way.
     The Cougars fell to 1-2.  They had five players score in double figures.
     The Lakers dominated the boards, out-rebounding the Cougars 58-34.  Tidwell had 17 points and SirShawna Dowdy contributed 13.  Sierra Norris and Danielle Lewis each tossed in eight.
     Next up for the Lady Lakers will be Erie County Community College on Wednesday, November 18^th at 5:30.  This is a home contest, where admission is always free.