LAKEWOOD, CO – The Colorado Christian women's basketball program will welcome 10 newcomers to its roster for the 2019-20 season.
"This class really fits the Colorado Christian culture. They really want to be here. They have a good connection together. There is a sense of respect and appreciation for one another and I think that will help raise the overall culture of the program. We have found kids who have a good focus academically, have a solid faith background and they also enjoy the game of the basketball," said head coach Corey Laster.
"Each player brings unique qualities to the program that will fit into what we are trying to accomplish. We brought-in a lot of juniors who we expect to play a lot of minutes. The group as a whole has the potential to move us forward."
The newcomers will mix with a group of four players who were apart of the team last season. The upcoming campaign begins the second weekend of November with a pair of games in Texas for the RMAC/Lone Star Conference Challenge.
Kayla Clewley
A stand-out student-athlete at Rapid City Christian, during her senior campaign she was named to the all-conference squad while leading the Comets to their first appearance in the state tournament in 20 years. Also earned team's Defensive Player of the Year and the school's Female Athlete of the Year award. As senior she averaged 8.9 rebounds and 9.3 steals per game. As a junior she led the South Dakota by averaging nine blocks a game while pulling down 14.2 rebounds a contest. The 6-3 power forward also played volleyball and was a member of the track team.
India Cole
A solid small and power forward at Castle View High School, Cole joins the Cougar program as a freshman. While with the Sabercats she was named all-conference twice and earned all-state honors on one occasion. Under head coach Matt Hema she earned the squad's Offensive Player of the Year designation three times. Cole is one of six children
Taylor Ferris
The native of Central Coast, Australia is welcomed to Colorado Christian after playing two seasons at NAIA power Freed-Hardeman (TN). During the 2018-19 campaign she played in 21 games helping the team to the national semifinals and an American Midwest Conference title. Ferris averaged 3.5 points and 3.8 rebounds per games last season. As reserve in 2017-18, she competed in 22 contest as the squad won the NAIA National Title. The 6-1 post player, averaged 19 points and 14 rebounds at Andrews Academy during her final prep season in Australia.
Julie Fournier
After playing the last two collegiate seasons at Santa Fe College (FL), Fournier joins the Cougars for her final two NCAA seasons. The guard played in 56 games, earning the starting nod 31 times. During her freshman year campaign she averaged 9.0 points per game and followed that with a 5.0 points per game average during the 2018-19 season. In high school she scored 1,000 career points and holds the school record for assists and steals. Led Fernandina Beach High School to a school record number of wins during her final prep season.
Sacha Griffin
Griffin comes to Colorado Christian with one-year of eligibility remaining. She played her first three collegiate seasons at Cal State L.A. While with the Golden Eagles she played in 44 games with a pair of starts. She played her prep basketball at California Academy of Math and Science. As a senior she averaged 18 points and three steals per game and was named the Coast League Most Valuable Player. As a junior she earned honorable mention all-state accolades.
Lourdes Gonzalez
Gonzalez was a two-year player at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah before joining the Cougars. She played in 53 games, scoring 251 points (4.7 ppg) and grabbing 281 rebounds (5.3 rpg). Prior to playing for the Badgers she competed for Cantwell Sacred Heart of Mary High School. Gonzalez was a two-year starter and earned all-conference honors and was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Year as a senior.
Samantha Nunez
Nunez joins the squad with two years of eligibility remaining. Last season she played at Tohono O'Odham Community College in Sells, AZ. She played in 22 games where she averaged 16.4 points per game. Nunez scored 30 or more points twice. During the 2017-18 campaign she helped Sisseton Wahpeton College (MN) to a 12-0 record in Northern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play. Nunez played her prep basketball at Americas High School (TX), winning multiple honors and awards.
Molly VandenBrink
A four-sport standout at Bellevue Christian School (WA), she earned a handful of honors in basketball before graduation. VandenBrink earned all-state accolades as a senior and named the Athlete of the Week twice. The squad won the league in all four seasons she played on the team; earning sixth- and fourth-place finishes at the state tournament. She also played soccer, volleyball and softball. Her brother, Jake also played basketball at Colorado Christian.
McClain Walker
Walker played two years at Otero Junior College and has two years of eligibility remaining for Colorado Christian. She started 37 games at Otero and played in 55 contests; averaging 5.3 points per games while playing for the Rattlers. At Classical Academy earned first-team all-conference three times and was selected to the all-state team as a senior. She was named team MVP twice. Walker was also a member of the volleyball team in high school and was named the squad's most inspirational player once.
Kami Worley
A standout at Wenatchee High School (WA), Worley joins the program with four years of collegiate eligibility. A first-team all-conference selection she also was named to the team's MVP as a senior. In her last season with the Panthers she averaged 14 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. Worley also earned the United State Marine Corp Distinguished Athlete Award.
