Ashland University women's basketball head coach
Kari Pickens has announced the addition of two transfers to the 2025-26 roster – graduate guard
Jenna Badali and senior guard
Alysa Lopez.
Badali was a first-team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference selection for Lewis in 2024-25, going for 10.9 points, 4.1 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals for the 26-4 Flyers. She shot 86.0 percent from the free-throw line, and her 41 3-point field goals were second on the team.
In 118 career games at Lewis, Badali collected 1,398 points, 482 assists, 420 rebounds, 220 steals and 178 3-pointers.
"Jenna is a tremendous addition to the Ashland women's basketball program," Pickens said. "She brings with her a great deal of experience and leadership to go along with a tenacious on-court presence. Jenna can play on both ends of the court and can score at all three levels, but she sets herself apart with her vision, her rebounding, and her defense.
"I am thrilled to have her a part of our program and to see the impact she will have for our team."
Lopez comes to AU from Sonoma State, where last season, she led the Sea Wolves at 13.1 points per game, while adding 4.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.0 steal per contest. Lopez shot 74.4 percent from the charity stripe, and her 29 triples led the team.
Prior to Sonoma State, Lopez played two seasons at Folsom Lake College, ending that stint shooting 50.0 percent from the field and totaling 716 points, 173 assists, 296 rebounds and 82 steals.
"Alysa is one of the most fun, energetic, and adventurous players that I have ever recruited," Pickens said. "Her energy and spirit are contagious and will immediately raise the level of competition within our practices. Alysa can score at all three levels, and she does so with a ton of swag to her game. She has a keen awareness for play-making and as a big guard, she is fearless to attack the boards.
"I am really excited for Alysa to join our squad."
Ashland women's basketball finished 32-4 overall and 19-1 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference in 2024-25, winning both the conference regular-season and tournament titles for a fourth straight year. AU also reached the D-II Sweet 16 for the eighth time in program history.
Over the last 14 seasons (2011-12 to 2024-25), Ashland is 422-45 (.904) with three NCAA Division II national titles, two national runner-up finishes, three undefeated seasons, a D-II-record 73-game winning streak, nine 30-win seasons, 13 NCAA postseason qualifications, 10 conference regular-season championships, 11 conference tournament titles, and a mark of 227-14 (.942) at the Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium.
