Ashland University head women's basketball coach
Kari Pickens has announced the addition of seven new players to the 2026-27 Eagle roster:
- Aspen Abel, incoming freshman guard/wing – Notre Dame Academy (Wis.)
- Lauren Borsenik, incoming junior center – transfer from Saginaw Valley State
- Allie Dahl, incoming freshman guard – Brodhead High School (Wis.)
- Mo'Nae Gamble, incoming freshman forward – Harvest Preparatory School
- Lila Kleve, incoming freshman guard/forward – Massillon Perry High School
- Kendall Standfest, incoming junior guard – transfer from Michigan Tech
- Madison Zaremba, incoming freshman guard – Lincoln-Way East High School (Ill.)
"We are so excited about our incoming recruiting class," Pickens said. "Five incoming freshmen to go along with two great transfers. This group will add significant depth and size to our roster, to go along with some very exciting returners. In addition to their on-court impact, they are going to be perfect culture fits and will help carry our team into an exciting 2026-27 season."
Abel was an all-state selection following her senior season, and finished first in the state in 3-point field-goal percentage at 47 in 2025-26. She was a two-time Division I all-conference choice, and her prep statistics included 11 points, five assists, four rebounds, one steal and one block per game.
A member of a Division I state semifinalist team as a senior and Division II state runner-up squad as a sophomore, Abel plans to major in Exercise Science and Nursing, with a focus in Pediatrics.
"Aspen was a late sign for us, as she had previously been committed but reopened her recruitment when her head coach resigned this spring," Pickens said. "She is a 5-foot-10 guard who is a defender and a shooter, and has a real chance to contribute this season. She shot 47 percent from three as a senior and guarded the opposing team's best player every night. She is a 4.0 student and could not be a better fit for our culture."
Borsenik comes to the Eagles after playing her first two college seasons at SVSU (2025-26) and Concordia Ann Arbor (2024-25). As a sophomore, Borsenik averaged 7.5 points and 4.1 rebounds, while making 48.3 percent from the field, 37.2 percent from 3-point range and 78.4 percent from the free-throw line. She started 21 of 28 games played.
At Ann Arbor, she started 22 of 28 games as a freshman, going for 13.5 points and 6.1 boards per contest. She was first-team all-conference and all-conference freshman team, as well as honorable mention all-region.
As a senior, Borsenik ended her prep career averaging 11.3 points and 9.7 rebounds. She won a Division III state title in 2023.
She will major in Multidisciplinary Studies, en route to a degree in Sonography.
"Lauren had two tremendous first seasons of college basketball, but we are thankful she chose Ashland to call home for her last two years," said Pickens. "She is going to have a big impact for us as a center in the upcoming year, as she is accustomed to guarding a traditional five, and will be able to bring a great deal of experience to that position. Lauren is a long, strong, mobile player who can defend and score inside and out."
Dahl is a three-time honorable mention all-state, three-time Rock Valley Conference Player of the Year and three-three first-team all-conference honoree. As a senior, she averaged 20.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, five assists and four steals per game; as a junior, 19.2 points, 9.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 3.4 steals; and as a sophomore, 18.9 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.7 steals.
Her program's all-time leading scorer with 1,766 career points, Dahl plans to major in Exercise Science.
"Allie is another Wisconsin native and is coming in to play a point guard position," Pickens said. "She is a 5-7 point guard who can score at all three levels with confidence, and isn't afraid to distribute the ball. A reliable defender, Allie is someone who is looking to come into our program and be a steady, reliable force for our team."
Gamble was lauded as a second-team and honorable mention Division VI All-Ohio choice. She was busy during her prep days, competing on the varsity in cross country, volleyball, basketball and track and field.
"Mo'Nae is a versatile player who makes her mark on the defensive end," said Pickens. "She is long and extremely athletic and can guard and rebound as good as anyone I have recruited. Her offensive skill will continue to improve at the college level, but she has the chance to turn herself into a special player with the way she can impact on the defensive end and her ability to score and push in transition."
Kleve was a two-time second-team All-Ohioan, two-time first-team District 4, two-time first-team All-Northeast Inland District and two-time first-team All-Federal League selection. Her prep statistics included 17.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 3.1 steals per game.
She plans to major in Business and Design.
"Lila is coming to us from a very familiar Federal League school, and has been tested night in and night out against some of the best teams in the state," Pickens said. "She is a 5-10 guard/forward who can defend a variety of players as well as score in a multitude of ways. She is a dynamic three-way scorer, and I am excited to watch her have a chance to make a big impact on our team this season."
Standfest was a starter in her two seasons at Michigan Tech, getting the opening nod in 49 of 50 games played. As a sophomore, she averaged 9.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 28.0 minutes per game, and made 76.3 percent from the free-throw line. As a freshman, it was 11.7 points, 7.9 boards and 2.0 assists over 30.1 minutes per game.
Her prep program's second all-time leading scorer with 1,354 career points, Standfest led her team to the Division III state quarterfinals two years in a row. As a senior, she averaged 19.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.3 steals and 2.3 blocks per game, and was the Traverse City Record Eagle Northern Michigan Female Athlete of the Year and Associated Press first-team all-state.
Standfest majors in Accounting, with a minor in Finance.
"Kendall is coming to us after having two tremendous seasons at MTU," said Pickens. "She had a standout freshman campaign, followed by another strong sophomore year. She was the team's best defender and rebounder for both seasons. However, she is much more than a defensive player, as she can play the 1-4 position on offense and can score in a variety of ways. Kendall is going to immediately boost our defensive prowess and our offensive versatility."
Zaremba is coming off an injury which caused her to miss her entire senior prep season. As a junior, she averaged 4.7 points per game, and finished with 70 rebounds, 47 steals and 53 assists.
She will major in Psychology.
"Madison is a preferred walk-on for our program after having missed her senior AAU and high school basketball season due to injury," said Pickens. "While I didn't have much of a chance to watch her compete, her coaches have told me that she is the hardest, most gritty player they have ever coached, and is an absolute blessing to have in the locker room from a cultural standpoint."
Also joining the Eagles will be incoming freshman manager
Josey Rome, from Buckeye Trail High School. She will major in Sport Management and Business Administration.
