Central Michigan University Athletics
Yops Adds Experience To Chippewas
11/27/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 27, 2002
There's no place like home.
Especially when you are opening up your basketball season.
Central Michigan University open the season tonight hosting Siena Heights, and is also home on Tuesday against Oakland.
"It's important to open up at home," junior guard Lauren Yops said. "We have spent the last five months conditioning for the season, and we are ready.
"Opening at home helps you establish yourself, and it's a little bit easier when you are in more comfortable surroundings."
For Yops, this will be her regular season debut for the Maroon and Gold.
Lauren, a 5-5 guard, transferred to CMU from Loyola-Chicago. She played in 43 games for Loyola-Chicago, starting 36 of those games.
As a freshman, Lauren averaged 9.0 points per game and was second on the team with 82 assists. She averaged 5.8 points, 3.9 rebounds while dishing 40 assists as a sophomore.
"One of the things I bring to Central Michigan is experience," Yops said. "At the point guard position it is good to have experience because you have to lead the team on the court.
"Besides experience, it's hard to find a point guard that can shoot like I can. I am also a scoring threat, and I have the ability to penetrate."
With experience at the college level, there is a big difference between the Chippewas and Loyola-Chicago.
"This team has great team chemistry," Yops said. "I have been on teams so talented but players did not get along.
"Everyone is friends with everyone else on the team. At times it can be a little bit competitive. But that is what it takes in order to succeed at this level."
Yops prepped at Flint Northern where she holds the all-time assist (758), and steals (402) records. Lauren earned all-state honors, honorable mention All-America, Genesee County 'Miss Basketball", Northern's female "Athlete of the Year", and was picked all-city, all-conference three times.
