2024-2025 Lady Toppers Basketball Team Surprising Everyone With a Sparkling Non-Con Record
How has the team performed so far through the non-conference schedule? 9-3 is incredible. This will be a deep look at the team, player statistics, coaches, staff and schedule.
2024 is turning to 2025, and it is past time to look at the team Coach Collins and his staff have pulled together this summer. Sitting at 9-3 after the last non-conference game is well ahead of most projections and way ahead of previous seasons. The losses are to Oregon State, Wichita State and #16 UK. As a fan, I am pleasantly surprised and hope this continues on into Conference USA play.
This 9-3 start is one of the better in school history (7-0 was only the third time in history) and should be recognized as such by the surrounding community and Western Kentucky itself. The city of Bowling Green, WKU students, and WKU alumni should be proud of their work and show up to the games. If you haven’t been to a Lady Topper game in a while, go to one or two. They play good basketball.
We’ll take a look at previous season information, current season statistics, and a personal observation on each player. Future weekly articles will go over the teams being played in the coming week, a review of previous matches, and observations and highlights of the weeks play.
Editor’s note: Unfortunately, detailed information on JUCO women’s college athletics is tough to come by and many of the players come from the JUCO ranks.
A Look at the Guards
Acacia Hayes #10 is a 5 foot 7 inch tall junior from Murfreesboro, TN. Acacia was injured for nine games last season and was dearly missed. In 24 games played, Hayes averaged 14 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.3 steals, 42% shooting overall, 84.6% free-throws, and 31.9% on three pointers per game. She was a dominant player when healthy and if she didn’t play well, WKU struggled also. Acacia was not the same player when she returned for the last two games of the season and only saw limited minutes in each contest. Hayes will need to be healthy and continue to improve this season if Western will be successful.
This season, Acacia is averaging 12.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 2.6 steals, 49.5% shooting overall and 75% free-throws, and 38.5% on three pointers per game.
Destiny Salary #1 is a 6 foot tall graduate player from Jonesboro, Arkansas. During 2023-24, Salary averaged 12.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 42% shooting overall, 75.5% free-throws, and 33% on three pointers per game in 20 games played. She was a dominant player in some games and mysteriously absent in others.
To begin this season, Destiny is averaging 11.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 38% shooting overall, 18.2% from three point line and 67.4% free-throws. Hopefully, she will play more consistently in her second season as a Hilltopper.
Alexis Mead #3 is a 5 foot 4 inch senior from Moreno Valley, California. During 2023-24, Alexis averaged 11 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.9 steals, 41% shooting overall, 75% free-throws, and 35.6% on three pointers per game. Mead is the only Lady Topper on the Preseason All CUSA team. Teams know that if Alexis is able to score and pass well, and their night is just that much harder when she’s firing on all cylinders.
In 2024, Alexis averages 14.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.4 steals, 45.5% shooting overall, 75% free-throws, and 37.5% on three pointers per game.
Josie Gilvin #33 is a 6 foot junior from Louisville, KY. Josie averaged 3.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, one assist and 1.5 steals per game. Gilvin was a player who came off the bench and added instant energy although sometimes a little over aggressive and reckless with her fouls. Josie needs to keep taking the next step and increase her stats by taking better shots and continuing her hustle without fouling as much as possible.
So far this season Josie averages 11.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.2 steals, 51% shooting overall, 79.2% free-throws and 38.5% three-point shots per game. These are all much better numbers and Josie is clearly the most improved player from last season.
Mackenzie Chatfield #0 is a 5’ 9” sophomore from Auckland, New Zealand. Mackenzie saw limited time last season as a freshman shooting 35%. Chatfield needs to make the most of her opportunities when she is in games.
So far this season Mackenzie averages 7.8 points, 1.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.4 steals, 45.9% overall shooting, 61.5% free-throws, and 41.5% three-pointers per game. The numbers are very good, but still a little inconsistent in playing time and scoring. However, she has to be the clear second-most improved player on the team.
Tia Shelling #15 is a 5’ 8” junior JUCO transfer from New Orleans, LA. At her previous school, she averaged 10 points, three rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. Tia needs to be a player to continue what she was doing at the JUCO level and be productive for WKU. Tia has seen limited action thus far in eight games.
Yendri Acosta #24 is a 5’7” junior from the Dominican Republic. Prior to WKU, Acosta played in 30 games for South Plains College and started in 16 games. Yendri scored a career high 27 points, grabbed eight rebounds and notched five blocks in a start against Frank Phillips College (Jan. 29, 2024), and she is part of the team that competed at FIBA U16 Americas Championship. Yendri has played in one game this season.
Salma Khedr #34 is a 6’1” freshman from Giza, Egypt. Prior to WKU, Salma was exposed to national basketball from a young age competing in multiple FIBA African Cups in various age categories, was selected to be a part of the NBA Academy Africa Women’s Elite Camp in 2022, and showcased her skills in the Red Bull 3x3 World Cup in 2022. Khedr won golden medals both in U16 and U18 National championships in 2022, and finished high school at Spire Academy in Geneva, Ohio averaging a double-double with 16.8 points and 11.6 rebounds and adding 4.8 assists a game.
Salma has played in six games this season and averages 3.4 points, 2.1 rebounds per game. She needs more playing time to get better, but has looked like a Freshman. With a little more work, she could become a very good player. Only time, coaching and playing will tell that tale. Of the young players, she is someone Coach Collins is trying to find some playing time.
A Look at the New Forwards
Torri James #2 is a 6’ tall freshman from Clarksville, TN. Torri played for WKU Alumni Anja Shelton at Rossview High School where she averaged 16.8 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. So far this season, Torri has played in eight games and averages 2.0 points and 0.8 rebounds. She is another player with great potential and needs time to adjust to the college game.
Caleigh Rose West #4 is 6’1” senior JUCO transfer from Orlando, FL. Before WKU Caleigh Rose played at Western Community College where she averaged 6.4 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. While there, West set the single season rebounding record for the school and is touted as a “rebounding machine.” In three games this season, Caleigh averages 3.7 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and one steal per contest. She has had some nice moments in her limited minutes, though.
Mya Pratcher #5 is a 6’0” junior transfer from Memphis, TN who played at Auburn and Jacksonville State. She was the #4 player from Tennessee in 2022 and has averaged 1.3 points and 1.9 rebounds in limited college action. This season as a Hilltopper Mya averages 4.0 points, 2.0 rebounds per game. Her shooting and defense need a little work, but is a nice bench player with good length.
Mariama Sow #6 is a 6’3” senior transfer from Theis, Senegal who played previously at UTEP where she averaged 3.3 points and 2.3 rebounds in limited action. Mariama has played in nine games this season and averages 4.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 85.7% free-throws. She has nice height and solid player, but needs to believe she is the dominant player in the middle, square to the basket better and elevate her shooting percentage.
Tatum Boettjer #13 is a 6’2” sophomore JUCO transfer from Derby, KS who played previously at Barton Community College where she averaged 10 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists while shooting 36% from the field, 35.3% from three and 81.5% from the free throw line.
Zsofia Telegdy #23 is a 6’3” junior transfer from Budapest, Hungary who played at the University of Kansas previously. Zsofia saw limited action but averaged 1.4 points and 1.4 rebounds and has played in multiple European basketball tournament for her home country. Zsofia has started all 12 games for WKU and averages 8.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.7 blocks, shoots 44.4% overall, 31.3% three-pointers and 53.3% free-throws. She burst onto the court against Indiana State scoring 25 points in the opening match, but has settled into scoring about 7 points per outing. Zsofia has the height, skills and ability to be a very good post player. She needs to believe she is the “Master of the middle” and dominate conference play.
Coaches
Greg Collins is starting his seventh year as the 11th head coach of the Lady Toppers and his overall 13th year at WKU. A graduate of the University of Louisville, Collins earned his bachelor's degree in marketing in 1988, and completed his master's degree in business education in 1994. He also achieved his Rank I in special education in 1998.
Starting the season with a career record of 101-81, Collins has had some success and developed some special players in his tenure, but has come under some heat as the Lady Toppers have only been to two WNIT tournaments and zero NCAA Tournament appearances during his tenure.
This year he has gathered a group of young women that are the tallest he has had on the Hill and actually one of the tallest in decades. This group looks to be a good mix of height, athletic ability, and athletic and academic accomplishments from around the world. Hopefully, they will become a team that does great things on The Hill. This team has started off the year at 9-3 headed into Conference USA play, the best non-conference record of his tenure.
Todd Buchanon was named associate head coach in 2023 and is starting his second year at WKU. A former head coach at UTEP, Houston, Houston Baptist, and others, Todd has a reputation of being able to recruit and develop top ranked talent. Buchanan graduated from Murray State (boo) with a Bachelor of Science in physical education and psychology in 1995.
Temeka Johnson was hired in June of 2022 and is starting her third season at Western. Temeka was a decorated LSU point guard from 2001-2005, was the sixth pick in the 2005 WNBA draft and had a very solid career before she started coaching. Most recently, Johnson was a high school basketball coach at John Curtis High School in Louisiana for three seasons. She led the team to back-to-back state championships in 2021 and 2022 and joined the Lady Tops a few months afterwards.
Tara Arnold-Jones is a native of Frankfort, KY, a former Lady Topper (2009-10), and a new coach this season. Tara is a 2014 graduate of Lindsey Wilson, earning a bachelor's degree in communications. She holds a master's degree from WKU in recreation and sports administration with a concentration in media and branding. During that time, she worked with the Hilltopper Sports Properties team as a radio and television commentator for women's basketball games.
David Walls enters his sixth season on the Lady Topper staff. David started as student manager, continued as a graduate assistant, promoted to director of scouting, and now serves as Assistant Coach/Video and Scouting.
Whitney Creech is a four year Lady Topper guard who played from 2016-2020. Whitney was probably most known for scoring over 5,000 points in high school. After graduating from WKU, Whitney has served at WKU as a graduate assistant, director of player development and now serves as an assistant coach in charge of operations. While working for WKU, Creech also served two years as an assistant coach for the Bowling Green High Purples.
Support Staff
Kennedy Rowan serves as graduate assistant.
Rebecca Collins serves as athletic trainer.
Morgan Embry serves as the strength and conditioning coach.
Schedule
Regular Season
11/4 @Indiana St W 71-59
vs Kentucky St 11/9 W 104-49
@ Mercer 11/12 W 78-54
@ Abilene Chrstian 11/21 W 68-64
vs North Dakota 11/24 W 74-69
vs Tennessee St 11/27 W 92-62
vs Miami OH 12/1 W 79-60
@ Wichita St 12/8 L 64-59
vs Ky Wesleyan 12/11 W 88-61
vs Oregon St 12/19 L 80-58
vs Nevada 12/20 W 80-70
@ Kentucky 12/28 L 88-70
vs Liberty 1/2 6:30 pm
vs FIU 1/4 2:00 pm
@ Jax State 1/9 6:30 pm
@ Kennesaw St 1/11 1:00 pm
vs MTSU 1/18 2:00 pm
vs Louisiana Tech 1/23 11:00 am
vs Sam Houston 1/25 2:00 pm
@ UTEP 1/30 8:00 pm
@New Mexico St 2/1 3:00 pm
vs Kennesaw St 2/6 6:30 pm
vs Jax State 2/8 2:00 pm
@ MTSU 2/15 2:00 pm
@ Sam Houston 2/20 6:30 pm
@ Louisiana Tech 2/22 3:00 pm
vs 2/27 6:30 pm
vs New Mexico St 3/1 2:00 pm
@ FIU 3/6 6:00 pm
@ Liberty 3/8 1:00 pm
Observations
From what I can see watching the Lady Toppers play this season, this Lady Toppers team has the talent to score points, the height and quickness to play defense, and potential to win most of their remaining games.
Will the coaches be able to get the players to jell together into a cohesive team? That is the real question. If so, this could be a special season for the Lady Toppers. Starting at 9-3 should have Lady Toppers fans buzzing. Hopefully, WKU students and locals will come check them out as conference play begins against CUSA defending champion Liberty on Thursday, January 2nd, 2025 at 6:30pm in Diddle Arena. GO TOPS!!!
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