Four Shawnee State University Basketball players have been named to All-American Mideast Conference South Division Teams for their efforts during the 2007-2008 basketball season.  Becky Babione was named to the first team.  Mallory Albers, Alison Meyer, and Kelly Wagner earned 3rd team recognition.  Coach Robin Hagen-Smith was named the South Division Coach of the Year.

Becky Babione, a junior from Fremont, OH, led the Bears in scoring at 11.6 points per game and rebounding with 8.2 per game.  She also established a school-record with 88 blocks on the season.  She recorded 4 double-doubles on the years including a 23-point, 19-rebound effort in an 80-62 win over Roberts Wesleyan on December 15.  She was named the AMC Player of the Week on two occasions.

Mallory Albers, a sophomore from Fort Loramie, OH,  was named 3rd Team All-AMC South Division despite coming off the bench the majority of the season.  She was second on the team in scoring at 11.1 points per game.  She led the team in 3-point shooting (45.9%) and steals (33). 

Alison Meyer, a  junior from Hamler, OH, was third on the team in scoring (10.6 ppg) and second in rebounding (7.2 rpg).  She led the team in field goal percentage making 48.3% of her shots.  She was named the AMC Player of the week for games played November 26 - December 2.

Kelly Wagner, a junior from Wayne, OH, averaged 10.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.  She led the team with 77 assists (2.7 per game) and was second with 31 steals.  She recorded a pair of double-doubles.

Coach Robin Hagen-Smith won her 7th Coach of the Year Award as the Bears (27-2) put together their best record since the 2000-2001 team finished 30-2.  The team won its first AMC Championship since 2003 and earned its 13th trip to the NAIA National Tournament.  In addition, Coach Hagen-Smith won her 500th game at the NAIA level with a 100-61 victory over Wilberforce on February 13.

Shawnee State plays Minot State in the 1st round of the NAIA National Tournament on Wednesday.

For the second time in a month, Shawnee State's Becky Babione has been named the American Mideast Conference Player of the Week.  She earned the honor for games played December 10-16 as well as games played November 19-25.

Babione, a six-foot junior from Fremont, OH, scored 23 points and grabbed 19 rebounds as the 16th ranked Bears rolled to an 8--62 win over Roberts Wesleyan College.

She was 6-for-10 from the field including 1-of-1 from beyond the arc.  She made all 10 of her free throw attempts and added two assists, one steal, and one blocked shot.

The Bears have won 10 straight games since a season-opening loss to the University of the Cumberlands.

Shawnee State forward Alison Meyer is the AMC Player of the Week in women's basketball for games played on Nov. 26. through Dec.2.  She is the second Bears player in a row to earn the honor.   

Meyer, a six-foot sophomore from Hamler, Ohio, averaged 18 points and 8.5 rebounds per game to lead NAIA Division II No. 21 Shawnee State to a pair of victories at the Georgetown Classic.  She had 17 points and 10 rebounds in a 93-77 win versus Martin Methodist.  She then totaled 19 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and three blocks during a 70-60 decision over No. 10 Taylor.

For the week, Meyer made 12-of-19 shots from the field for 63 percent and 12-of-14 free throws for 86 percent.  She added four assists, four steals, and three blocks for the Bears, 5-1 overall.

Shawnee State forward Becky Babione has been selected the AMC Player of the Week in women’s basketball for games played on Nov. 19-25.

Babione, a six-foot junior from Fremont, Ohio, averaged 11.5 points, nine rebounds, and six blocks to pace the NAIA Division II No. 21 Bears to two wins. She tallied 12 points, nine boards, and seven rejections in an 84-51 win versus Malone. She finished the week with 11 points, nine rebounds, and five blocks in an 80-53 victory at Northwestern Ohio.

Babione was 8-for-15 from the floor for 53 percent which included a 1-for-3 effort outside the arc. She made 6-of-7 free throws for 86 percent to go along with five assists and one steal. Shawnee State enters the week 3-1 overall.

SSU SIGNS ALEXANDER’S GUTHRIE
JUNE 3, 2007
Alexander High School’s Keilee Guthrie has announced that she will sign a letter of intent to play basketball at Shawnee State University.  She is the second member of the Bears’ 2007-2008 recruiting class. 

Guthrie earned 1^st Team All-Ohio recognition her senior season, as she averaged 19 points, 8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2 steals per game and lead her team to a 24-3 record.  She was twice named Tri Valley Player of the Year and once District 13 Player of the Year.  Keilee earned All-Academic honors three times.  She also earned four varsity letters in softball and three in volleyball.     

“I hope that I can offer different aspects of the game by joining the team,” said Guthrie.  “I want to work hard and make the team the best it can be.” 

“We are very happy that Keilee has chosen Shawnee State to further her education and basketball career,” said Coach Hagen-Smith.  “Keilee will give us depth at the power forward position.  She has been a leader on the court and in the classroom.  Keilee is a strong athlete, hard worker, and knows what it takes to be successful.” 

Shawnee State competes in the American Mideast Conference.  The Bears compiled a 19-13 (11-8 AMC) record during the 2006-2007 season.

Wagner, a 5-9 sophomore guard from Wayne, OH, averaged 12.4 points, and 5.6 rebounds per game while shooting 49% from the field.  She recorded 3 double-doubles on the season.  She scored a career-high 23 rebounds against Mt. Vernon on January 23. 

Karen Diehl, a 5-11 sophomore forward from Chillicothe, averaged 10.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.  She had 2 double-doubles.  She scored a career-high 22 points at Cedarville on February 3.

Jill Cropper, a 5-11 center from Georgetown, OH, averaged 8.2 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.  She recorded career-highs of 22 points and 12 rebounds in a 78-77 win over Rio Grande on November 28.

Jennifer Grandy, a 5-5 guard from Buchtel, OH, averaged 8.8 points, 3.0 assists, and 2.4 rebounds per game.  She scored a career-high 21 points in 79-67 win at Rio Grande on February 8.  She is the third Shawnee State player to earn the honor since 2000 - 2001.

Shannon Leasure, a 5-7 junior guard from Sarahsville, OH, earned academic recognition for maintaining a grade point average above 3.5.  She is majoring in business.

Shawnee State concluded the 2006 - 2007 season with a record 19-13 (10-8 AMC).

BEARS SIGN FIRST 2007 RECRUIT
JANUARY 26, 2007
PORTSMOUTH, OH – The Shawnee State University Women’s Basketball Team has announced the signing of the first member of the 2007 recruiting class.  Zane Trace Senior Guard Shayna Cox signed a letter of intent on January 11.   

“I’m excited about going to Shawnee State,” said Cox.  “They have a great program.  It feels good to get this decision out of the way.”    

Shawnee State coach Robin Hagen-Smith is also excited about adding Cox to the program. “We are glad to have her as a part of the Shawnee State family. She has a good background academically and athletically and will be an asset to our program.”  

It is a program that hosts a name that Cox will be very familiar with, former Zane Trace standout, Karen Diehl. Diehl is currently a sophomore starter for the Bears averaging nearly 12 points a game. “It will be good to be on the court with Karen again,” said Cox, “I enjoyed playing with her at ZT and I can’t wait to do the same at Shawnee.”  

Cox is no stranger to hard work and Coach Hagen-Smith is ready to see where it takes her at the next level. “Shayna has a good foundation both academically and athletically and if she continues it she will contribute to the success and tradition of our program. Her work ethic will determine her success early on.”  

Shawnee State competes in the American Mideast Conference.  The Bears are currently 14-8 overall and aiming for their thirteenth National Tournament appearance in fourteen seasons.