Last season marked the beginning of a new era for Oakland women’s basketball. Under first-year head coach Keisha Newell, the Golden Grizzlies exceeded preseason expectations, finishing eighth in the Horizon League standings.
Although there isn’t anything glamorous about an eighth-place finish, what was expected to be a rebuilding year quickly turned into one in which Oakland showed flashes of being a formidable team.
“We didn’t have to really do much to exceed the expectations that were given to us, but I think we proved that whether it’s good or bad, other people’s opinions don’t define us,” Newell said. “The one thing we talked about as a team was making sure the voices that were inside of our locker room were always louder than the ones on the outside.”
And heading into the 2026-27 season, many of last season’s top performers are still on the roster, highlighted by the return of Freshman of the Year and All-League First Team selection Makenzie Luehring.
“Retention is probably what I’m most proud of. We’re in an era where it’s very easy to leave and look for the next best thing, so I don’t take it for granted that so many of our young women decided to come back, our staff included. I’m proud of every single one that stayed,” Newell said.
Joining Luehring are key contributors from last year’s squad, including frequent starters Lianna Baxter, Layla Gold and Angie Smith, along with rotational pieces Sereniti Roberts-Adams and Karinna Trotter.
“The depth for me is something that is different in year two than year one, and I’m going to try to utilize that to the best of our ability. It’s fun watching them compete — sometimes I have to remind them they are on the same team,” Newell said.
Newell also brought in seven newcomers, including three transfers and four freshmen.
An interesting connection among these new additions is that two freshmen, Milagros Morell and Alessia Reale, hail from Argentina and competed in the same league, expanding Oakland’s recruiting pipeline to South America.
“We got two amazing players and even better people in Millie and Alessia, and our connections are strong in South America, so I think it’s only going to continue to grow, especially if they have a great experience,” Newell said. “I would love for it to become a pipeline for sure.”
Returning Players
Lianna Baxter, Graduate Student, 6-2, C/F, Marinette, WI, Oconto
Leading off the list of returners is Baxter, who was an instrumental part of the team last season for Oakland, leading the team in rebounds while also contributing 8.7 points per game. A vocal leader for the team, Baxter brings a little bit of everything to the court as an inside-out scorer who also does the dirty work. She will once again be looked to carry a solid portion of Oakland’s offensive load while holding the team down defensively in the paint.
Ilris Aworet, Senior, 6-0, F, Port-Gentil, Gabon, Frank Phillips College
After joining the Golden Grizzlies for her junior campaign last season, Aworet didn’t see a ton of playing time, appearing in just 13 games for 48 total minutes. In her short spurts on the court, Aworet stood out as a solid rebounder, tallying four in a game against Wright State in just eight minutes. Given the way Oakland’s roster has shaped up, it’s likely that Aworet will once again come off the bench.
Layla Gold, Senior, 5-11, G/F, Indianapolis, IN, Cathedral HS/Valparaiso
Another mainstay in Oakland’s starting roster last season was Gold, who started in all but one game for the Golden Grizzlies. Gold has a motor few around the Horizon League can match. As last season progressed, Gold became an increasingly reliable rebounder while establishing herself as one of Oakland’s best on-ball defenders, bringing down 5.1 rebounds per game last season on her way to leading the Golden Grizzlies in blocks with 35.
“She’s the one that we need to take the biggest step forward. I think people will say she did her job, but me as her coach, I know there’s so much more in her, so I’m excited to continue to push her and challenge her,” Newell said.
Angie Smith, Junior, 5-8, G, Bolingbrook, IL, Bolingbrook HS/DePaul
Smith’s season was cut short last year after she suffered an injury in a late-January matchup against Youngstown State. However, before her injury, Smith was a key piece of the Oakland offense, averaging 10.3 points per game while converting at a rate of 46.1%, both third-best on the team. With Smith healthy ahead of the season, her ability to finish efficiently around the rim will immediately bolster Oakland’s offense.
“Literally the week after her surgery, she was back in the gym doing her layup routine with one arm, the only arm she had available,” Newell said. “We already knew she was going to come back better than she was before. When you lose someone who provides that work ethic at all times, it’s tough, so we’re valuing it. I think she’s going to have a really big year for us.”
Sereniti Roberts-Adams, Junior, 6-3, C, Chicago, IL, Butler College Prep
Making most of her appearances off the bench last season for the Golden Grizzlies, Roberts-Adams was a reliable presence in the paint, hauling in the third-most rebounds while finishing the 2025-26 campaign as Oakland’s most efficient scorer. Roberts-Adams could see a similar role this season, leading the team off the bench while making the occasional start depending on the matchup.
Makenzie Luehring, Sophomore, 5-6, G, Jackson, WI, Kettle Moraine Lutheran HS
What’s to say about Luehring that hasn’t been said in Horizon League circles already? Luehring took the league by storm her freshman season, leading all first-year players in points, assists, made threes and steals before becoming the second Horizon League Freshman of the Year in program history. After closing out the season with a Horizon League tournament-record 39-point performance against Cleveland State, Luehring will look to pick up right where she left off as Oakland’s floor general.
“What excites me most about Kenzie this year is her leadership,” Newell said. “We’re going to put her in a position where she knows this is her team, and she has to lead vocally. She already does it by example, and I’m excited for her to walk into that role.”
Karinna Trotter, Sophomore, 6-2, F, Milwaukee, WI, Divine Savior Holy Angels HS
The last returner to the black and gold is Trotter, who saw most of her run towards the end of last season as injuries began to pile up on the Oakland roster. In the closing stretch, Trotter made the most of her opportunities, especially with a 16-rebound performance against Wright State in February. With how Trotter stepped up late in the season, it would be a surprise if she isn’t given an even bigger opportunity to become a pillar of the Golden Grizzly bench.
Incoming Players
Ella Riggs, Graduate Student, 5-9, G, Cincinnati, OH, Indian Hill HS/Purdue Fort Wayne
After seeing limited playing time during her career, first at Furman and most recently at Purdue Fort Wayne, it’s hard to imagine Coach Newell didn’t have in mind the success of flipping Filippa Goula from Cleveland State last offseason when adding Riggs to the roster. Riggs showed flashes of becoming a serious scoring threat last season, putting in double-figure scoring efforts in five different games. As one of the Mastodons’ top deep threats last season, Riggs has the makings of a backcourt running mate next to Luehring.
“I remember our staff watching warm-ups one game we were playing Purdue Fort Wayne, and she was not even hitting the net, let alone missing a shot,” Newell said. “I really think this is going to be the best year of her career — she wants to leave a lasting impact on the program, and more than anything, she wants to win.”
Samone Andrews, Junior, 5-7, G, Port Huron, MI, Dakota HS/Rochester Christian
An addition just minutes down the road from Rochester Christian, Andrews is a defensive-minded guard who fits the mold Coach Newell looks for in her players. During her sophomore season for Rochester Christian, Andrews averaged 13.8 points and 1.5 steals per game, earning All-Defensive First Team honors and Second Team All-Conference honors in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference.
Berlynn Carlson, Sophomore, 6-3, F, Beaverton, OR, Mountainside HS/Mount St. Mary’s
Carlson joins Oakland following a brief freshman stint for Mount St. Mary’s, where the forward averaged 7.4 points and 4.8 rebounds a game. Carlson’s freshman season was interrupted by an inconsistent role, leading to uneven production and limited minutes. Still, when Carlson was given consistent run, she showed promise and gives Oakland an intriguing addition in the frontcourt.
Milagros Morell, Freshman, 6-4, F, Argentina, Avellaneda
Recently named to the Argentina Women’s Basketball Team, Morell had extensive experience competing for her country before joining Oakland, most notably in international U15 and U17 games and tournaments. Although Morell saw limited playing time in the World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Turkey, she stood out for her club team, where she finished the season averaging 9.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in 22 minutes of play. Morell’s addition gives the Golden Grizzlies another dynamic option in a frontcourt that could be one of the team’s biggest strengths.
Sheridan Beal, Freshman, 5-9, G, West Bloomfield, MI, West Bloomfield HS
A standout during her senior year at West Bloomfield, Beal averaged 22.5 points and 1.9 steals per game. She earned a McDonald’s All-American nomination and made the ballot for the Michigan High School Athletics Association Girls Basketball Player of the Year. Beal provides scoring depth and a competitive edge, shaped by her state championship experience with West Bloomfield as a sophomore.
“She is fearless. She’s a freshman, but she doesn’t care — she has a scorer’s mentality, which has been fun to watch,” Newell said.
Cece Bonner, Freshman, 5-6, G, Muskegon, MI, Muskegon HS
Bonner, another local freshman addition from Newell, had quite the unique high school campaign. After missing her entire freshman season and most of her junior season, Bonner broke out in her final year, posting stat-stuffing averages of 13.2 points, five rebounds, five assists, three steals, and three blocks per game, capturing the state championship in the process. Her comeback story and two-way versatility give Oakland another gritty guard who can impact the game on both ends of the floor.
Alessia Reale, Freshman, 6-0, F, Cañada de Gómez, Santa Fe, Argentina, Instituto José Razzetto/El Talar
If Morell’s addition wasn’t enough to establish Oakland’s new connection to Argentina, Reale gives Newell another international prospect to work with. Reale competed in a variety of different tournaments for Argentina, most recently in the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup in 2025. For her pro team, Reale came off the bench and averaged 3.2 points and 1.9 rebounds per game. With a deep frontcourt entering next season, Reale gives Oakland another option in the rotation.
Projected Starting Roster
Guard – Makenzie Luehring, 5-6, SO
Guard – Ella Riggs, 5-9, GS
Guard – Angie Smith, 5-8, JR
Forward – Layla Gold, 5-11, SR
Forward – Lianna Baxter, 6-2, GS
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