Photo by: Josh Gales
Six Transfers to Join Purdue Fort Wayne WBB For 2024-25
4/30/2024 3:12:00 PM | Women's Basketball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Purdue Fort Wayne women's basketball head coach Maria Marchesano has announced that six transfers will be joining the program for 2024-25: Lauren Ross (Western Michigan/Michigan State), Ella Riggs (Furman), Hillary Offing (Penn State Lehigh Valley), Sydney Freeman (Ball State, Dayton), Tia Morgan (Arkansas Pine Bluff, Tyler JC) and Jordan Reid (Indiana Wesleyan).
Ross (5-10 guard, Muskegon, Mich.) comes to Purdue Fort Wayne with one season of eligibility left. She spent three years at Western Michigan and one at Michigan State. The 5-foot-10 guard was an elite scorer at Western Michigan. In her final season with the Broncos, she averaged 21.8 points per game, shooting 46.5 percent from the floor and 34.3 percent from 3-point land. She is in the WMU career record book for her 311 field goals, 43.9 field goal percentage, 33.1 3-point percentage and 81.4 free throw percentage. She was a six-time Mid-American Conference Player of the Week in her career and was a College Sports Communicators Academic All-American Third Team selection in 2022-23. This past season at Michigan State, she averaged 2.3 points per game for the 22-9 NCAA Tournament participant. Ross played at Reeths-Puffer High School where she scored over 1,500 points in her career.
"Lauren is a dynamic scorer that adds a lot of versatility to our team at that end of the floor," Marchesano said. "Her experience and poise with the ball in her hands will be a huge asset for us this year."
Riggs (5-9 guard, Cincinnati, Ohio) has three years of eligibility remaining. She spent two years at Furman, but did not play in 2023-24. In her freshman campaign with the Paladins, she averaged 5.2 points per game, shooting 49.2 percent from the floor and 45.2 percent from 3-point range. She had a season-high of 18 points at East Tennessee State. Prior to her collegiate career, she played at Indian Hill High School, where she averaged 19.5 points per game and was a two-time Conference Player of the Year. She was also a four-time First Team All-Conference and All-District, and two-time Second Team All-Region and All-State. She led the Braves to four conference championships.
"We recruited Ella hard out of high school and are just as pumped about her now as we were then," Marchesano said. "She has a pure stroke and elite fundamentals that allow her to be extremely efficient on the offensive side of the ball."
Offing (5-11 forward, Irmo, S.C.) also has three years of eligibility left to spend in Fort Wayne. Offing spent last season at Penn State Lehigh Valley, where she averaged 17.1 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. She scored a season-high of 29 points at Penn State Wilkes-Barre, one of nine 20-point games in her freshman campaign. She grabbed double-digit rebounds 14 times, including a season-high of 17 against Penn State Brandywine. Prior to her time at Penn State Lehigh Valley, she was a three-time All-Region honoree and two-time All-State selection for Dutch Fork High School. She scored over 1,000 points for the Silver Foxes.
"Hillary's upside has no limits," Marchesano said. "She is extremely athletic and gritty and is willing to do the dirty work around the rim. She is a hungry competitor, and we are excited to watch her grow and develop in our systems."
Freeman (5-8 guard, Albion, Ind.) returns to Northeast Indiana after spending three years at Ball State and one at Dayton. She comes to Purdue Fort Wayne with one year of eligibility left after taking last season off. In 2022-23, she paced Dayton with 11.4 points and 4.8 assists per game. At Ball State, she averaged double-digits all three seasons and 4.0 assists per game for her career. The Cardinals went 20-13 in Freeman's final year in Muncie and earned a berth to the WNIT. Prior to college, Freeman was a McDonald's All-American nominee in 2019 after averaging 18.3 points per game at Central Noble. She won the 2A state title in 2018 and was the Northeast Corner Conference Player of the Year. She left Central Noble as the all-time leading scorer with 1,741 points.
"Adding Sydney to our team is both exciting and very much needed after graduating our starting point guard from last season," Marchesano said. "Her ability to push the ball from A to B is about as elite as they come. She's a willing passer that can score it from all levels."
Morgan (5-8 guard, Chicago, Ill.) is spending her last year of college with the Mastodons after two years at Tyler Junior College and two at Division I Arkansas Pine Bluff. She averaged 5.2 points per game with the Lions picking up the starting role in six of the last seven games she played in Pine Bluff. She scored in double-figures 10 times in the 41 games she played for UAPB. In her time at Tyler, the Apaches won 51 games in two years. Morgan averaged 8.7 points in her second season in Texas.
"Tia brings an edge to the defensive side of the ball that we needed to bring in this offseason," Marchesano said. "She is a true competitor willing to take on any challenge. She also brings added depth to the point guard position with her ability to handle and create for others."
Reid (5-10 wing, New Palestine, Ind.) makes the one-hour drive north to play her last year of college ball in the Summit City after four years at Indiana Wesleyan. She is coming off a senior season at IWU in which she averaged 12.0 points per game and was named an NAIA All-America Third Team selection for the 29-5 Wildcats. IWU was ranked as high as No. 2 in the NAIA Coaches Poll. Reid shot 53.2 percent from the floor in her senior season and over 50 percent from her career. She scored nearly 1,400 points at IWU and earned three All-Crossroads nods and two All-Defensive Team honors. She played high school basketball at New Palestine.
"We are pumped to add Jordan to our team this offseason," Marchesano said. "She adds defensive versatility, grittiness in the paint, and another very willing passer to the team. Her winning mentality and experience will be a great glue piece as we mesh a lot of new faces this year."
The six transfers will join three freshmen and five returning 'Dons to round out the 2024-25 roster.
Ross (5-10 guard, Muskegon, Mich.) comes to Purdue Fort Wayne with one season of eligibility left. She spent three years at Western Michigan and one at Michigan State. The 5-foot-10 guard was an elite scorer at Western Michigan. In her final season with the Broncos, she averaged 21.8 points per game, shooting 46.5 percent from the floor and 34.3 percent from 3-point land. She is in the WMU career record book for her 311 field goals, 43.9 field goal percentage, 33.1 3-point percentage and 81.4 free throw percentage. She was a six-time Mid-American Conference Player of the Week in her career and was a College Sports Communicators Academic All-American Third Team selection in 2022-23. This past season at Michigan State, she averaged 2.3 points per game for the 22-9 NCAA Tournament participant. Ross played at Reeths-Puffer High School where she scored over 1,500 points in her career.
"Lauren is a dynamic scorer that adds a lot of versatility to our team at that end of the floor," Marchesano said. "Her experience and poise with the ball in her hands will be a huge asset for us this year."
Riggs (5-9 guard, Cincinnati, Ohio) has three years of eligibility remaining. She spent two years at Furman, but did not play in 2023-24. In her freshman campaign with the Paladins, she averaged 5.2 points per game, shooting 49.2 percent from the floor and 45.2 percent from 3-point range. She had a season-high of 18 points at East Tennessee State. Prior to her collegiate career, she played at Indian Hill High School, where she averaged 19.5 points per game and was a two-time Conference Player of the Year. She was also a four-time First Team All-Conference and All-District, and two-time Second Team All-Region and All-State. She led the Braves to four conference championships.
"We recruited Ella hard out of high school and are just as pumped about her now as we were then," Marchesano said. "She has a pure stroke and elite fundamentals that allow her to be extremely efficient on the offensive side of the ball."
Offing (5-11 forward, Irmo, S.C.) also has three years of eligibility left to spend in Fort Wayne. Offing spent last season at Penn State Lehigh Valley, where she averaged 17.1 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. She scored a season-high of 29 points at Penn State Wilkes-Barre, one of nine 20-point games in her freshman campaign. She grabbed double-digit rebounds 14 times, including a season-high of 17 against Penn State Brandywine. Prior to her time at Penn State Lehigh Valley, she was a three-time All-Region honoree and two-time All-State selection for Dutch Fork High School. She scored over 1,000 points for the Silver Foxes.
"Hillary's upside has no limits," Marchesano said. "She is extremely athletic and gritty and is willing to do the dirty work around the rim. She is a hungry competitor, and we are excited to watch her grow and develop in our systems."
Freeman (5-8 guard, Albion, Ind.) returns to Northeast Indiana after spending three years at Ball State and one at Dayton. She comes to Purdue Fort Wayne with one year of eligibility left after taking last season off. In 2022-23, she paced Dayton with 11.4 points and 4.8 assists per game. At Ball State, she averaged double-digits all three seasons and 4.0 assists per game for her career. The Cardinals went 20-13 in Freeman's final year in Muncie and earned a berth to the WNIT. Prior to college, Freeman was a McDonald's All-American nominee in 2019 after averaging 18.3 points per game at Central Noble. She won the 2A state title in 2018 and was the Northeast Corner Conference Player of the Year. She left Central Noble as the all-time leading scorer with 1,741 points.
"Adding Sydney to our team is both exciting and very much needed after graduating our starting point guard from last season," Marchesano said. "Her ability to push the ball from A to B is about as elite as they come. She's a willing passer that can score it from all levels."
Morgan (5-8 guard, Chicago, Ill.) is spending her last year of college with the Mastodons after two years at Tyler Junior College and two at Division I Arkansas Pine Bluff. She averaged 5.2 points per game with the Lions picking up the starting role in six of the last seven games she played in Pine Bluff. She scored in double-figures 10 times in the 41 games she played for UAPB. In her time at Tyler, the Apaches won 51 games in two years. Morgan averaged 8.7 points in her second season in Texas.
"Tia brings an edge to the defensive side of the ball that we needed to bring in this offseason," Marchesano said. "She is a true competitor willing to take on any challenge. She also brings added depth to the point guard position with her ability to handle and create for others."
Reid (5-10 wing, New Palestine, Ind.) makes the one-hour drive north to play her last year of college ball in the Summit City after four years at Indiana Wesleyan. She is coming off a senior season at IWU in which she averaged 12.0 points per game and was named an NAIA All-America Third Team selection for the 29-5 Wildcats. IWU was ranked as high as No. 2 in the NAIA Coaches Poll. Reid shot 53.2 percent from the floor in her senior season and over 50 percent from her career. She scored nearly 1,400 points at IWU and earned three All-Crossroads nods and two All-Defensive Team honors. She played high school basketball at New Palestine.
"We are pumped to add Jordan to our team this offseason," Marchesano said. "She adds defensive versatility, grittiness in the paint, and another very willing passer to the team. Her winning mentality and experience will be a great glue piece as we mesh a lot of new faces this year."
The six transfers will join three freshmen and five returning 'Dons to round out the 2024-25 roster.
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