Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewas Add Five for 2023-24 Women’s Basketball Season
8/21/2023 2:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The first set of newcomers under Head Coach Kristin Haynie to feature three true freshmen, two transfers
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — Central Michigan Women's Basketball will have five new faces within the 13-player roster for the 2023-24 campaign, the inaugural season of the Kristin Haynie era in McGuirk Arena.
The Chippewas welcome three true freshmen—Alexis Boyke (Frankenmuth, Mich. / Frankenmuth), Desrae Kyles (Benton Harbor, Mich. / Benton Harbor), Tamara Ortiz (Columbus, Ohio / Westerville South)—coupled with a pair of incoming transfers in junior Satori Griffin (Mount Pleasant, Mich. / Mount Pleasant / Mid Michigan Col.) and sophomore Madisen Wardell (Detroit, Mich. / Edison / DePaul).
More details on the five incomers for CMU Women's Basketball below, listed in order of uniform number:
#2 TAMARA ORTIZ
Freshman | 5-5 | Columbus, Ohio / Westerville South
High School: Graduated from Westerville South High School in 2023 … named Ohio Division I second-team All-State (2023) … named All-Ohio Capital Conference Capital Division Player of the Year (2023) … two-time All-OCC first-team selection … district champion (2023)
Club: Played for Ohio Lady Hoopsters, Ohio Impact and Ohio United
Personal: Daughter of Isreal Ortiz and Elva Millan … has three older brothers: Cesear, Rico and William … first-generation college student … favorite NBA player is Ja Morant
Why CMU?: "CMU just made me feel like home, made me feel like I needed to be here for the next four years … the people and coaches at CMU are really great people."
#3 DESRAE KYLES
Freshman | 6-5 | Benton Harbor, Mich. / Benton Harbor
High School: Graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 2023 … two-time Michigan Division II All-State honoree (2023: first team, 2022: honorable mention) … averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds per game as a senior … competed for the Tigers in basketball, volleyball, softball and track & field
Club: Played for Michigan Crossover of Detroit, the state's only Nike-sponsored AAU organization
Personal: Daughter of Clenzie and Adi Kyles … one of seven siblings … has a pet snake
#8 MADISEN WARDELL
Sophomore | 6-0 | Detroit, Mich. / Edison | DePaul (IL)
2022-23 at DePaul: Transferred to Central Michigan from DePaul University (IL) of the Big East Conference … appeared in 12 games as a member of the Blue Demons … made collegiate debut Nov. 9 against American University
High School: Four-year letterwinner and two-time state champion at Detroit Edison ... captured four district titles and three regional titles ... nominated for McDonalds All-American Game as a senior
Club: Played for AAU Michigan Crossover EYBL
Personal: Daughter of Les Wardell and Jaquanda Baker... has three sisters Skyla, Sidnei, and Lauren and one brother Tyler
#21 SATORI GRIFFIN
Junior | Guard | 5-9 | Mount Pleasant, Mich. / Mount Pleasant | Mid Michigan College
Prior to CMU: Transferred to Central Michigan from Mid-Michigan College of the NJCAA after two seasons (2022-23, 2021-22) … powered the Lakers to the 2023 NJCAA II national tournament, 2023 Great Lakes District Championship, 2023 MCCAA league championship through 13-1 conference record, 28-6 overall … named second-team All-MCCAA Northern and all-defense … played an average of 21.7 minutes per game across 55 appearances with 49 starts … shot 46.2 percent from the field, 75.6 percent from the free throw line in 2022-23 … collected nine 20-point games including career-high 37 points against Richard Bland College (VA) (March 21, 2023)
High School: Graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in 2021 … was a four-year competitor for the Oilers in basketball, volleyball and track & field … named All-Saginaw Valley League honorable mention as a senior
Personal: Daughter of Michael Griffin and Dawn Davis … one of 13 siblings … mother, Dawn, and brother, Domonique Griffin, graduated from Central Michigan in 1998 and 2022, respectively … "must have chicken alfredo and garlic bread" on every game day
Why CMU?: "I chose to attend Central Michigan University because I love my hometown, my whole family is here and when I got an offer to play for CMU I could not miss out on the amazing opportunity!"
#33 ALEXIS BOYKE
Freshman | 6-0 | Frankenmuth, Mich. / Frankenmuth
High School: Graduated from Frankenmuth High School as a seven-time varsity letterwinner and four-year honor roll mainstay … three-time All-State first team selection (2022-23, 2020-21, 2019-20) … two-time Saginaw Player of the Year (2022-23, 2020-21) … led Frankenmuth to 2023 Division II state title game … two-time regional champion (2023, 2022) … four-time district champion (2023, 2022, 2021, 2020)
Club: Played for the Michigan Mystics of Clio, Mich. From fourth through 10th grade
Personal: Daughter of Jeremy and Staci Boyke … has one older brother, Logan, and one younger sister, Sophia … enjoys spending time with her family, friends and dog, Gracie
The Chippewas welcome three true freshmen—Alexis Boyke (Frankenmuth, Mich. / Frankenmuth), Desrae Kyles (Benton Harbor, Mich. / Benton Harbor), Tamara Ortiz (Columbus, Ohio / Westerville South)—coupled with a pair of incoming transfers in junior Satori Griffin (Mount Pleasant, Mich. / Mount Pleasant / Mid Michigan Col.) and sophomore Madisen Wardell (Detroit, Mich. / Edison / DePaul).
More details on the five incomers for CMU Women's Basketball below, listed in order of uniform number:
#2 TAMARA ORTIZ
Freshman | 5-5 | Columbus, Ohio / Westerville South
High School: Graduated from Westerville South High School in 2023 … named Ohio Division I second-team All-State (2023) … named All-Ohio Capital Conference Capital Division Player of the Year (2023) … two-time All-OCC first-team selection … district champion (2023)
Club: Played for Ohio Lady Hoopsters, Ohio Impact and Ohio United
Personal: Daughter of Isreal Ortiz and Elva Millan … has three older brothers: Cesear, Rico and William … first-generation college student … favorite NBA player is Ja Morant
Why CMU?: "CMU just made me feel like home, made me feel like I needed to be here for the next four years … the people and coaches at CMU are really great people."
#3 DESRAE KYLES
Freshman | 6-5 | Benton Harbor, Mich. / Benton Harbor
High School: Graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 2023 … two-time Michigan Division II All-State honoree (2023: first team, 2022: honorable mention) … averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds per game as a senior … competed for the Tigers in basketball, volleyball, softball and track & field
Club: Played for Michigan Crossover of Detroit, the state's only Nike-sponsored AAU organization
Personal: Daughter of Clenzie and Adi Kyles … one of seven siblings … has a pet snake
#8 MADISEN WARDELL
Sophomore | 6-0 | Detroit, Mich. / Edison | DePaul (IL)
2022-23 at DePaul: Transferred to Central Michigan from DePaul University (IL) of the Big East Conference … appeared in 12 games as a member of the Blue Demons … made collegiate debut Nov. 9 against American University
High School: Four-year letterwinner and two-time state champion at Detroit Edison ... captured four district titles and three regional titles ... nominated for McDonalds All-American Game as a senior
Club: Played for AAU Michigan Crossover EYBL
Personal: Daughter of Les Wardell and Jaquanda Baker... has three sisters Skyla, Sidnei, and Lauren and one brother Tyler
#21 SATORI GRIFFIN
Junior | Guard | 5-9 | Mount Pleasant, Mich. / Mount Pleasant | Mid Michigan College
Prior to CMU: Transferred to Central Michigan from Mid-Michigan College of the NJCAA after two seasons (2022-23, 2021-22) … powered the Lakers to the 2023 NJCAA II national tournament, 2023 Great Lakes District Championship, 2023 MCCAA league championship through 13-1 conference record, 28-6 overall … named second-team All-MCCAA Northern and all-defense … played an average of 21.7 minutes per game across 55 appearances with 49 starts … shot 46.2 percent from the field, 75.6 percent from the free throw line in 2022-23 … collected nine 20-point games including career-high 37 points against Richard Bland College (VA) (March 21, 2023)
High School: Graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in 2021 … was a four-year competitor for the Oilers in basketball, volleyball and track & field … named All-Saginaw Valley League honorable mention as a senior
Personal: Daughter of Michael Griffin and Dawn Davis … one of 13 siblings … mother, Dawn, and brother, Domonique Griffin, graduated from Central Michigan in 1998 and 2022, respectively … "must have chicken alfredo and garlic bread" on every game day
Why CMU?: "I chose to attend Central Michigan University because I love my hometown, my whole family is here and when I got an offer to play for CMU I could not miss out on the amazing opportunity!"
#33 ALEXIS BOYKE
Freshman | 6-0 | Frankenmuth, Mich. / Frankenmuth
High School: Graduated from Frankenmuth High School as a seven-time varsity letterwinner and four-year honor roll mainstay … three-time All-State first team selection (2022-23, 2020-21, 2019-20) … two-time Saginaw Player of the Year (2022-23, 2020-21) … led Frankenmuth to 2023 Division II state title game … two-time regional champion (2023, 2022) … four-time district champion (2023, 2022, 2021, 2020)
Club: Played for the Michigan Mystics of Clio, Mich. From fourth through 10th grade
Personal: Daughter of Jeremy and Staci Boyke … has one older brother, Logan, and one younger sister, Sophia … enjoys spending time with her family, friends and dog, Gracie
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