ROCHESTER, Mich. – Check out this inside look at the latest news about the Oakland women's basketball team, staff and alumni on and off the court.
TWEET OF THE WEEK: FRESH NEW GEAR
When you look good, you play good!! Don't you agree?
BREEDY READY TO ROLL:
We caught up with junior guard
Brianna Breedy before practice to get her thoughts about the team and expectations for the upcoming season.
INSIDE PRACTICE WITH COACH BLANTON:
Associate Head Coach
Ke'Sha Blanton shared her thoughts on
Brianna Breedy along with an inside look on how the team is looking so far and the expectations heading into the 2020-21 season.
LEARNING FROM THE BEST: MUFFET MCGRAW
Former University of Notre Dame women's basketball Head Coach and Naismith Hall of Fame inductee, Muffet McGraw, checked in with the coaching staff to talk about basketball.
"Last week, the staff talked with Coach McGraw on a Zoom call about the X's and O's of the game and she helped us break down some things we are looking to implement with our team this season," said Assistant Coach
Ariel Braker. "It was very helpful we enjoyed a fun time learning from one of the best to ever do it."
Braker was two-year starter and tri-captain in her four-year career at Notre Dame under McGraw and was a member of the winningest class in program history, finishing with a 138-15 overall record with four Final Four berths and three National Championship Game appearances. She also helped the Irish to two consecutive BIG EAST championships followed by going undefeated in conference play to claim the ACC title during the 2013-14 season.
ALUMNI CHECK IN: TAMIKA BATES (99')
Former women's basketball standout Tamika Bates works as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) residing in South Florida with her husband Patrick and three children, Sydney (13), Devin (8) and Morgan (6).
Hometown: Mt. Clemens, Mich.
Major: Nursing
Women's Basketball Accomplishments:
-19th all-time in scoring: 1,251 points
-Career Records: Field goal percentage (.544-2nd), double-doubles (11-6th), scoring average (14.6-10th)
-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (GLIAC) First-Team and All-Defensive Team selection (1997)
-Helped Oakland claim two GLIAC championships and two NCAA Tournament appearances
-1999 Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM) Academic-Athletic Honor Team and Summit League Honor Roll
How Oakland University has impacted her life…
"Oakland prepared me for life and as a nurse and nurse anesthetist by teaching me how to develop time management skills to successfully balance academics and athletics in addition to building my independence and confidence as a student-athlete. These are crucial life skills student-athletes need to learn how to do for themselves as most are away from home for the first time."
Being a member of the Oakland basketball family…
"Working as a part of a team prepares you for the world because you realize we are not on islands operating alone. We have to hone our skills of communication, conflict resolution, as well as learn how to assist each other to reach a common goal. These are important lessons for any student-athlete as well as any employee or employer. I'm very grateful for my time at OU and love being an alumnus. I still wear my OU apparel proudly down here in South Florida and love telling people how great Oakland University is."
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