Former women's basketball players making their marks in the NCAA
MESA, AZ – The national championship safe in their memory, four members of the 2013-14 Mesa women's basketball team are embarking on careers at NCAA four-year institutions this season.
Two (Mariah Willadsen and Madi Austin) have become members of the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks, another (Peace Amukamara) is beginning her career at neighboring Arizona State and yet a fourth (Leslie Tademy) has moved to Utah to play for Dixie State.
Willadsen and Austin were both all-region selections at Mesa and, obviously, played instrumental roles in the T-Birds' national title. Austin was even chosen second team All-American.
They have begun their careers in Flagstaff in quite different ways. Willadsen has immediately moved into the starting lineup. Through the Lumberjacks first two games she has averaged 7.0 rebounds along with two assists and one steal. Her scoring has not yet materialized, but her 13.0 scoring average last year indicates that facet of her game will come around. She did score 12 in a pre-season exhibition game.
Meanwhile, Austin's season has been somewhat delayed by illness. She has appeared briefly in both games, but is playing her way back into shape.
Amukamara has been given an opportunity to join her sister, Promise, with the Sun Devils. She saw 14 minutes of action in ASU's season-opener. She was a first team All-American a year ago.
Tademy's season at Dixie State has yet to begin. The Red Storm opens its year Wednesday hosting Alaska-Fairbanks.
Two other members of recent T-Bird squads have already made their marks in the NCAA and are still playing.
Ali Gloyd last played for MCC during the 2011-12 season. The following year she averaged 9.4 points and 6.0 rebounds at the University of Arizona, but then missed last season with a torn ACL. She is back in the fold for 2014-15 with the Wildcats opening their season Monday night against CSU-Bakersfield.
Mariam Ridgwell was a member of the 2012-13 Mesa team that finished second in the nation. She played at Southern Arkansas last season where she averaged 6.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. She has since transferred to Nebraska-Kearney.