Central Michigan University Athletics
Women’s Basketball Adds Five Transfers for 2024-25
5/31/2024 10:13:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Head Coach Kristin Haynie’s first recruiting class gets wrapped up with a strong group from the transfer portal
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — Central Michigan Women's Basketball concluded its 2024 recruiting class this spring with a collection of five incoming transfers, marking 10 newcomers from the first full recruiting cycle of Head Coach Kristin Haynie's tenure.
The group features a diverse background in collegiate basketball as two make their way to Mount Pleasant from other NCAA I institutions, one from NCAA II after rewriting their previous school's single season record book, and two more from prominent NJCAA programs including last year's NJCAA II national champion.
Mayla Ham (Detroit, Mich. / Wayne Memorial), a 5-foot-11 guard, will join the Chippewas as a sophomore in 2024-25 after she played in 17 games as a freshman at Georgetown in the Big East. She was a Michigan Miss Basketball Finalist as a senior, and a two-time all-state selection, at Wayne Memorial High School, where she led the Zebras to four straight district titles and a pair of state semifinal appearances. She was named her region's Preseason Player of the Year ahead of her 2022-23 senior season and was added to the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan's Best in 2023.
"From the start, Mayla has been bought into our vision," Head Coach Kristin Haynie said. "She has a high motor and loves to defend and rebound. Getting her back to her home state, with her Big East experience, is going to be huge for our program."
FULL BIO
Demetria Prewitt (Madison, Wis. / La Follette), a 5-foot-10 forward also known as "Meachie," will be a junior in 2024-25 after two standout seasons for 2024 NJCAA national champion Kirkwood Community College in Iowa, a program CMU Assistant Coach Toccara Ross was once a key contributor for as a player as well. Prewitt was named a first team NJCAA All-American and to the NJCAA II National Championship All-Tournament squad in 2024, leading the Eagles with 15.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, on a 53.5 percent rate from the field, with an improved line of 16.9 points, 8.6 rebounds per game in her final six postseason contests. She logged nine 20-plus point games and 13 double-doubles as a sophomore.
"A national champion and an all-American that knows how to win, Meachie brings toughness, grit and experience to our program. A tenacious rebounder with a quick first step, also prides herself on the defensive end."
FULL BIO
Jess Lawson (Las Vegas, Nev. / Legacy), a 5-foot-8 guard, will play her final season of eligibility for the Chippewas in 2024-25 after two seasons at NJCAA I Cochise College of Arizona and her junior season at NCAA II Illinois Springfield (UIS). Lawson quickly became one of the best players in UIS Women's Basketball history as she set new single-season program records for points (478), field goals made (172) and steals (78) on her way to becoming just the second All-Great Lakes Valley Conference First Team honoree for the Prairie Stars. She was named Illinois Springfield's Female Athlete of the Year as she led the Prairie Stars in points, rebounds, assists and steals, scoring a season-high 28 points with 14 rebounds against Drury for the first of seven double-doubles last season. Prior to her tenure at Legacy High School in Las Vegas, Lawson spent two seasons competing for national standout and Nevada powerhouse Centennial High School under Head Coach Karen Weitz, who she also played for with the Vegas Bulldogs AAU program.
"Jess comes to our team with a lot of experience. She's a rebounding guard who has a knack for scoring the ball and takes pride in defense. We expect her to come in and make a big impact and be very successful within our system."
FULL BIO
Natalie Lathrop (Tualatin, Ore. / Tualatin), a 6-foot-3 center, will have two years of eligibility remaining when she gets to campus this summer as a redshirt junior, having spent the last three seasons with Nevada where she was a three-time Mountain West Scholar Athlete recipient. After her sophomore season was cut short due to injury, she returned to play in 23 games with one start in 2023-24, scoring a season-high eight points at UNLV in January. Lathrop was an all-state honorable mention for her junior season at Tualatin High School in Oregon, averaging 16.6 points and 9.3 rebounds per game in her junior season, which featured a 35-point, 18-rebound, 10-block triple-double against St. Mary's Academy, making all 14 of her field goal attempts in that game.
"A graduate student from Nevada, Natalie brings size and leadership into our post position. Her ability to run the floor and her work ethic are going to give us the opportunity to compete against top teams in the MAC."
FULL BIO
Taylor Johnson (Cannon Falls, Minn. / Cannon Falls), a 6-foot-3 center, will be a sophomore in 2024-25 after playing in 33 games for NJCAA I College of Southern Idaho (CSI) as a freshman. She posted a team-high 49.4 percent field goal percentage in her 13.6 minutes per game and pulled down 17 rebounds in a game against Southern Nevada in February of last season. She collected double-digit scoring outputs in seven games and was a Dean's List honoree at CSI. Her club career includes a two-year stint with North Tartan EYBL in Minnesota, where she helped the program to a state title in 2022.
"Taylor is coming to us with a lot of youth and energy. She brings a post presence with an unguardable hook shot and a hunger for the game that is infectious to those around her."
FULL BIO
On top of the collective success on the court for this group, all five have received academic honors in their careers. Prewitt and Johnson each earned Dean's List selections at Kirkwood and Southern Idaho, respectively; Lawson was named to the College Sport Communicators Academic All-District team for Illinois Springfield; Lathrop is a three-time Mountain West Conference Scholar Athlete at Nevada; Ham graduated from Wayne Memorial as a four-year honor roll mainstay on top of her title as a Michigan Miss Basketball Finalist before getting into Georgetown.
The 10 newcomers, including the five-member freshman class, for the 2024-25 campaign push the Central Michigan roster to 16 players, as six players return from 2023-24, led by junior Taylor Anderson (South Lyon, Mich. / South Lyon East) and sophomore Tamara Ortiz (Columbus, Ohio / Westerville South) who combined for 31 games played and 28 starts despite both missing extended time due to injury last season. Senior guard Lisa Tesson (Montréal, Québec / Royal Crown) leads all returners with 23 starts across 28 games played last season, with a team-high average of 30.5 minutes per game.
The group features a diverse background in collegiate basketball as two make their way to Mount Pleasant from other NCAA I institutions, one from NCAA II after rewriting their previous school's single season record book, and two more from prominent NJCAA programs including last year's NJCAA II national champion.
Mayla Ham (Detroit, Mich. / Wayne Memorial), a 5-foot-11 guard, will join the Chippewas as a sophomore in 2024-25 after she played in 17 games as a freshman at Georgetown in the Big East. She was a Michigan Miss Basketball Finalist as a senior, and a two-time all-state selection, at Wayne Memorial High School, where she led the Zebras to four straight district titles and a pair of state semifinal appearances. She was named her region's Preseason Player of the Year ahead of her 2022-23 senior season and was added to the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan's Best in 2023.
"From the start, Mayla has been bought into our vision," Head Coach Kristin Haynie said. "She has a high motor and loves to defend and rebound. Getting her back to her home state, with her Big East experience, is going to be huge for our program."
FULL BIO
Demetria Prewitt (Madison, Wis. / La Follette), a 5-foot-10 forward also known as "Meachie," will be a junior in 2024-25 after two standout seasons for 2024 NJCAA national champion Kirkwood Community College in Iowa, a program CMU Assistant Coach Toccara Ross was once a key contributor for as a player as well. Prewitt was named a first team NJCAA All-American and to the NJCAA II National Championship All-Tournament squad in 2024, leading the Eagles with 15.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, on a 53.5 percent rate from the field, with an improved line of 16.9 points, 8.6 rebounds per game in her final six postseason contests. She logged nine 20-plus point games and 13 double-doubles as a sophomore.
"A national champion and an all-American that knows how to win, Meachie brings toughness, grit and experience to our program. A tenacious rebounder with a quick first step, also prides herself on the defensive end."
FULL BIO
Jess Lawson (Las Vegas, Nev. / Legacy), a 5-foot-8 guard, will play her final season of eligibility for the Chippewas in 2024-25 after two seasons at NJCAA I Cochise College of Arizona and her junior season at NCAA II Illinois Springfield (UIS). Lawson quickly became one of the best players in UIS Women's Basketball history as she set new single-season program records for points (478), field goals made (172) and steals (78) on her way to becoming just the second All-Great Lakes Valley Conference First Team honoree for the Prairie Stars. She was named Illinois Springfield's Female Athlete of the Year as she led the Prairie Stars in points, rebounds, assists and steals, scoring a season-high 28 points with 14 rebounds against Drury for the first of seven double-doubles last season. Prior to her tenure at Legacy High School in Las Vegas, Lawson spent two seasons competing for national standout and Nevada powerhouse Centennial High School under Head Coach Karen Weitz, who she also played for with the Vegas Bulldogs AAU program.
"Jess comes to our team with a lot of experience. She's a rebounding guard who has a knack for scoring the ball and takes pride in defense. We expect her to come in and make a big impact and be very successful within our system."
FULL BIO
Natalie Lathrop (Tualatin, Ore. / Tualatin), a 6-foot-3 center, will have two years of eligibility remaining when she gets to campus this summer as a redshirt junior, having spent the last three seasons with Nevada where she was a three-time Mountain West Scholar Athlete recipient. After her sophomore season was cut short due to injury, she returned to play in 23 games with one start in 2023-24, scoring a season-high eight points at UNLV in January. Lathrop was an all-state honorable mention for her junior season at Tualatin High School in Oregon, averaging 16.6 points and 9.3 rebounds per game in her junior season, which featured a 35-point, 18-rebound, 10-block triple-double against St. Mary's Academy, making all 14 of her field goal attempts in that game.
"A graduate student from Nevada, Natalie brings size and leadership into our post position. Her ability to run the floor and her work ethic are going to give us the opportunity to compete against top teams in the MAC."
FULL BIO
Taylor Johnson (Cannon Falls, Minn. / Cannon Falls), a 6-foot-3 center, will be a sophomore in 2024-25 after playing in 33 games for NJCAA I College of Southern Idaho (CSI) as a freshman. She posted a team-high 49.4 percent field goal percentage in her 13.6 minutes per game and pulled down 17 rebounds in a game against Southern Nevada in February of last season. She collected double-digit scoring outputs in seven games and was a Dean's List honoree at CSI. Her club career includes a two-year stint with North Tartan EYBL in Minnesota, where she helped the program to a state title in 2022.
"Taylor is coming to us with a lot of youth and energy. She brings a post presence with an unguardable hook shot and a hunger for the game that is infectious to those around her."
FULL BIO
On top of the collective success on the court for this group, all five have received academic honors in their careers. Prewitt and Johnson each earned Dean's List selections at Kirkwood and Southern Idaho, respectively; Lawson was named to the College Sport Communicators Academic All-District team for Illinois Springfield; Lathrop is a three-time Mountain West Conference Scholar Athlete at Nevada; Ham graduated from Wayne Memorial as a four-year honor roll mainstay on top of her title as a Michigan Miss Basketball Finalist before getting into Georgetown.
The 10 newcomers, including the five-member freshman class, for the 2024-25 campaign push the Central Michigan roster to 16 players, as six players return from 2023-24, led by junior Taylor Anderson (South Lyon, Mich. / South Lyon East) and sophomore Tamara Ortiz (Columbus, Ohio / Westerville South) who combined for 31 games played and 28 starts despite both missing extended time due to injury last season. Senior guard Lisa Tesson (Montréal, Québec / Royal Crown) leads all returners with 23 starts across 28 games played last season, with a team-high average of 30.5 minutes per game.
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