Ashland University women's basketball head coach
Kari Pickens has announced the addition of former Bowling Green State University and Upper Arlington High School guard
Macy Spielman to the 2021-22 roster.
"We're really excited about Macy, for a variety of reasons," said Pickens. "First and foremost, the type of person she is fits exactly with what our culture is about, and what we want in a player.
"On top of that, the basketball standpoint, she is an incredible athlete. She's very versatile – she can play and defend multiple positions. And her ability to get to the rim and get to the free-throw line and rebound and do all of those things that sometimes go unnoticed, are going to be huge for us."
"I'm grateful to be a part of Ashland, and the incredible culture and tradition here," Spielman said. "I grew up watching Ashland, and getting to come here and play at the shootouts and Elite camps. Now, being on the other side of it is definitely rewarding. I'm so excited to be here. I think it's going to be a lot of fun. It's a gift."
As a redshirt freshman for the Falcons last year, the 5-foot-10 Spielman saw her first collegiate action, playing in 13 games off the bench and averaging 1.5 points and 0.8 rebounds during BG's run to a 21-8 record and the Women's National Invitation Tournament for former Eagle head coach
Robyn Fralick.
"I had a great two years at Bowling Green, and I will forever cherish my time there and my relationships there," said Spielman. "I definitely learned a lot. I adore coach Fralick. I think she's an incredible human, a really awesome basketball coach. She told me that she would help me in any way she could, but coming to Ashland was my decision and mine alone.
"There was a ton of purpose behind me going to Bowling Green, and I think there's a ton of power and truth and purpose in me coming to Ashland. He (God) played the most influential role in it. During my time of decision, I was actually fasting, and it was just an opportunity for me to completely rely on Jesus for everything, to feed my soul with truth. It was clear it was Ashland, and I'm so thankful it was Ashland. He called the play, and I went for it."
Spielman was redshirted in 2019-20 due to injury. She will be a redshirt sophomore in 2021-22.
At Upper Arlington, Spielman set school records for both career points (1,622) and career assists (348), was second-team All-Ohio as a senior and third-team All-Ohio as a junior, and earned All-Ohio Capital Conference first-team laurels all four seasons. As a senior in 2018-19, she averaged 20.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.1 steals per game.
Spielman joins an experienced, deep and talented Eagle backcourt which includes seniors
Hallie Heidemann,
Erin Daniels and
Sophia Fortner, junior
Sam Chable and sophomores
Makenna Geiser and
Sydney Jacobsen.
"The depth that we are going to be able to have next year, I think, is going to be a big strength of ours," Pickens said, "and something, as a coaching staff, we are looking forward to."
Spielman is the daughter of
Chris Spielman, former National Football League middle linebacker for the Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns from 1988-99 who currently serves as the Lions' Special Assistant to Chairman and President & CEO.
Over the last 10 seasons, Ashland women's basketball has authored possibly the best decade-long run in NCAA Division II annals – a 293-36 record (.891), two national championships, two national runner-up finishes, nine D-II postseason qualifications and a D-II-record 73-game winning streak.
The Eagles will begin play in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference in 2021-22.
Pickens is entering her fourth season as the Eagles' head coach (79-12 record, .868 winning percentage), following five seasons as an assistant coach, and perhaps the best two-season run as a player in D-II history after her own transfer from the Division I level.
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