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Women’s hoops adds Wisconsin transfer

April 18, 2012
Lacia Gorman

Lacia Gorman

The Northern Illinois women’s basketball team added Wisconsin-transfer Lacia Gorman to its 2013-14 roster on Tuesday.

The 5’6” guard will be a sophomore for the Huskies in the 2013-14 campaign and brings a true point guard mentality to the program.

“I know Lacia because I went through the recruiting process with her when I was at Wisconsin,” said NIU head coach Kathi Bennett. “The first thing I love about her is her family. She comes from a great family that is very grounded, very hard-working. We had a connection immediately.”

“I already had a connection with Coach Bennett because she recruited me at Wisconsin,” said Gorman, who will join the team this summer and be allowed to practice all year, but won’t be able to compete in any games in 2012-13 due to NCAA transfer rules. “On my visit, all of the NIU coaches were nice and genuine. They seemed excited about the game and getting better. The girls were very accepting as well. All of them got my number and we’ve been in contact since. The environment, the feel, everything – NIU felt like it was home right away.”

In her freshman season with the Badgers, Gorman appeared in 27 games and made one start, averaging 9.5 minutes and 2.1 points per game. The highlight of her season was a 10-point, four-rebound effort against Nebraska on Feb. 19 as she went 3-for-6 from the field, including 2-for-4 from the 3-point line.

Kathi Bennett

Kathi Bennett

“From a basketball standpoint, she’s a pure point guard,” Bennett said of Gorman’s game. “She has quickness and can grind someone the length of the floor. She’s a great passer and can shoot the three and score off the dribble. She wants to be the coach’s right hand. That’s fun. She has a great heart and passion for the game. She’s going to fit in really well.”

“First off, I’m a defensive-minded point guard,” Gorman said. “I feel that defense leads to offense. Coach Bennett and I are going to have to have good communication. She wants a point guard to run things the way she wants. I’ll have to have a good basketball IQ and understand what needs to happen in the game at what point it time.”

In high school, the Fort Wayne, Ind., native was a four-year varsity letterwinner for Wayne High School.

She ended her career with 1,604 points, 688 assists, 478 steals, and a 2009 Indiana 3A state championship. Gorman was named all-conference and all-area four times and was a three-time all-state selection. She was also a 2011 McDonald’s All-American Game nominee and a two-time National Honor Society president.

Along with the addition of Gorman, the future is looking bright for the NIU women’s basketball program after the completion of Year Two under 300-win-coach Bennett. With two wins in the MAC Tournament for the first time since 2007, the Huskies made a splash in the postseason with a team full of underclassmen that can build on the experience.

The Huskies will return 10 players for the 2012-13 campaign, including a healthy sophomore guard Danny Pulliam (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike) and the addition of a fellow Wisconsin-transfer, 6’0” sophomore forward Jada Buggs (Elkhart, Ind./Memorial), after sitting out the 2011-12 season.

Overall, the 2012-13 Huskies will return over 60 percent of their points and rebounds, which is nearly the opposite of what NIU had returning for the 2011-12 season.

For more information on NIU women’s basketball and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.