Eastern Michigan Athletics
Women’s Hoops Signs Three for 07-08
11/13/2006 2:41:34 PM | Women's Basketball
YPSILANTI, Mich. – Eastern Michigan University Head Women's Basketball Coach Suzy Merchant, in her continual development of one of the top programs in the Mid-American Conference, has signed three players to National Letters of Intent during the early signing period. Merchant announced today that Sydney Huntley-Rogers (Cincinnati, Ohio-Purcel Marion), Cassie Schrock (Wadsworth, Ohio-Wadsworth) and De’ja Wills (Anderson, Ind.-Anderson) have signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Eagles next season.
"We are excited to add this talented group of freshman to the Eagle family", said Merchant. "They fit our system well both offensively and defensively and look forward to the impact they will make next fall."
Huntley-Rogers, a 5-foot-6 point guard, averaged 16.8 points, 4.2 assists and 2.3 steals per game last year as a junior for Purcel Marion. Huntly-Rogers was named the Girls Greater Cincinnati League (GGCL) Player of the Year in the Grey Division along with being named the Player of the Year by the Cincinnati Enquirer in Division III. She also garnered second-team All-State accolades to go along with first team All-District honors.
Schrock, a 5-foot-9 guard, averaged 19.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.8 steals in helping the Lady Grizzlies finish with a 23-4 record and a Division I state basketball semifinals appearance. With Schrock in the lineup, Wadsworth has compiled a 63-10 record along with three Suburban League regular season champions. A three-year starter and team captain, Schrock has already posted 990 points in 72 games and is only 10 points away from becoming the 24th player in Medina County history to score 1,000 points in a career and is 572 points away from the school’s scoring record.
A 2006 first team All-Ohio selection by the Associated Press, Schrock was named as The Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Player of the Year in Medina County as a junior along with being selected the Akron Beacon Journal’s Player of the Year. During the 2005-06 campaign, Schrock was named Winter Sports Athlete of the Year by the Beacon Journal along with garnering first team accolades for the third consecutive season from Akron Beacon Journal, Cleveland Plain Dealer and The Medina Gazette. As a sophomore and freshman, Schrock earned honorable mention All-Ohio by the Associated Press en route to being selected a Top 25 player for class of 2007 by the Ohio Girls Basketball Report.
Wills, a 5-foot-9 guard, averaged 14.9 points, 2.8 assists and 2.8 assists per game as a junior to lead the Lady Tribe. A senior tri-captain, she helped Anderson capture its second consecutive sectional title as the team finished the 2005-06 season with a 17-8 mark. A prolific scorer, Wills owns the Madison County and AHS single-game scoring record with 53 points in a game versus Indianapolis Washington, Dec. 22, 2005.
As a junior Wills was named an All-State candidate along with capturing first team All-North Central Conference and All-Madison County accolades. During the 2005-06 season, she lead the NCC in total steals, ranked third in scoring and fourth in assists. In 2004-05, she earned second team All-NCC honors along with earning Player of the week honors for the week ending Nov. 29, 2004 and Nov. 28, 2005. For her play she was rewarded with a spot in the IBCA/IHSAA Top 100 Underclass Showcase in Indianapolis, July, 22, 2006.
Last season, EMU posted 22-8 overall record and a school-record 15--1 MAC mark. The Green and White’s 22 wins were the second most in program history and marked EMU’s third straight 20-win season. The Eagles also made their third consecutive national postseason tournament appearance, with a berth in the 2006 Postseason Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT).
EMU opens the 2006-07 campaign when it hosts the University of New Orleans in the Eagle Classic, Nov. 17, at the Convocation Center.
Eastern Michigan University women’s Basketball 2007-08 Committments
Player Pos. Ht. Cl.-Elig. Hometown-High School
Sydney Huntley-Roger G Fr.-Fr. Cincinnati, Ohio-Purcel Marion
Cassie Schrock G 5-9 Fr.-Fr. Wadsworth, Ohio-Wadsworth
De’ja Wills G 5-9 Fr.-Fr. Anderson, Ind.-Anderson
