PORTLAND, Ore. – Entering the second year of competition, the Multnomah University women's basketball team is set to kick off their first year in the NAIA and the Cascade Collegiate Conference this weekend with a non-conference home game against Douglas College.
 
The Lions are coming off a 6-15 overall record in the first year as a collegiate program a season ago and are eager to start their next challenge.
 
"We are very excited to be taking this huge jump into such an incredible conference" said second year head coach Tim Bieri, "We are looking forward to learning from all of the other great coaches and teams throughout the season."
 
MU returns six players from last year's squad while added 11 newcomers, including five junior college transfers.
 
Sophomore guard Valerie Wakefield leads a group of returns after averaging the most minutes played last season at 34.1 minutes per game. She averaged 11.5 points per contest while adding three assists per game.
 
MU averaged 50.5 points per game last season, shooting 31 percent from the field and 26 percent from 3-point.
 
The Lions will have a big task heading into one of the top conference's in the NAIA and expect to have a few growing pains.
 
"We expect to learn, learn, and learn this season. If we are able to maintain a proper perspective – then there is no question that we will have tremendous growth by the end of the season" said Coach Bieri.
 
With the addition of 11 new players, the Lions have a lot more depth, totaling seven more players on this year's squad than the previous season.
 
Junior guard Miranda Schmillen is one key recruit coming to the Lions after claiming the Northwest Athletic Conference Championship at Peninsula College while averaging 10 points per game.
 
"This year's team is pretty deep at multiple positions. Although we are young – our talent level and overall potential is a substantial step up."
 
Below is a list of key returners and recruits:
 
Key Returners:
 
Valerie Wakefield – 5-4, Sophomore, Guard:
Played the most minutes per game (34.1) for the Lions last year, averaging 11.5 points per game with three assists per game.
 
Lexie Govert – 5-8, Senior, Guard/Forward:
Started all 21 games last season and shot the highest field goal percentage at 41 percent while averaging 11.3 points per game. Also tallied a team high 178 rebounds on the season.
 
Nicole Verrett – 5-5, Senior, Guard:
Averaged 6.7 points per game in 18 appearances for the Lions and shot a high 84 percent from the line.
 
Key Recruits:
 
Lacie Kamper – 5-11, Junior, Forward:
Finished in the top 20 in rebounds per game in the NWAC at Wenatchee Valley, averaging 7.7 per contest.
 
Miranda Schmillen – 5-4, Junior, Guard:
Landed on the All-Academic Team while average 10 points per game while at Peninsula College. Finished 16th in the NWAC in free throw percentage at 78.4 percent.
 
Milan Woods – 5-3, Junior, Guard:
Averaged the second most steals in the NWAC while at Portland Community College with 3.92 steals per game, totaling 94 in 24 games. She also averaged 13 points per game.
 
Katherine Edmonds – 5-9, Junior, Forward:
Averaged 10 points and 10 rebounds at Mendocino College and was named the 2013-14 Defensive Player of the Year.
 
The Lions open up the 2015-16 campaign playing host to PacWest Douglas College on Friday night at 5 pm.