Varsity Athletics

BEREA, OHIO -- Two years ago, Avon Lake High School graduate Laura McClung left home bound for horse country in Kentucky and to play basketball at Centre College in Danville. Now, back home, McClung and is healthy, happy and playing basketball at Baldwin-Wallace College.

"When I left for Centre, I wanted to be close to my two loves, horses and basketball. I thought that Centre was the place for me," said McClung, a sophomore wing player for the unbeaten, 8-0, and 12th-ranked Yellow Jacket women. "It wasn't that Centre was a bad place to go, but it wasn't what I thought it would be.

"I also missed my family, but that wasn't the deciding factor," said McClung, who is averaging 3.2 points and 1.3 rebounds and has played in six of the eight wins.

"I really didn't call them that much while I was at Centre," said McClung. "I thought it wasn't cool having to rely on my parents and family. It was the first time that I was on my own. I was caught up in my freshman year. I wanted to be my own person.

"After a period of time, I think I grew out of that feeling that parents just aren;t cool enough to be around or talk to," said McClung. "This year, we are a lot closer. That is a good thing."

McClung has always loved horses and she felt that by going to Kentucky, being in the state where the Kentucky Derby is contested late each May would make it feel like home.

"I have always had a love for horses," said McClung, a business administration major at B-W. "Being in Kentucky brough me closer to that love, but it was my love of family that brought me home. I am happy to be home and happy to be playing for a great basketball program like Baldwin-Wallace."

At Centre and on the basketball team, McClung earned a varsity letter and played in all 27 games. She averaged 11 minutes of playing time per game and 2.3 ppg. and 0.9 rpg. But Centre had a 5-22 record. Despite the record, McClung insists that is not why she left Centre and transferred to B-W.

"I was happy playing basketball," said McClung. "Being happy on the basketball court has been a constant for me. Whether it was at Avon Lake, Centre or now at B-W, I have really enjoyed the experience. Just because we didn't have a winning record at Centre is not why I came to B-W. But having a great start to the season is certainly a nice plus!

"The players in this program are so dedicated and committed and have a real desire to compete which I like," said McClung, who scored four points in last Sunday's 82-45 win against Webster (Mo.) University. "We have great depth and everyone gets some time of the court."

In addition to basketball, McClung is happy with her academic experience so far at B-W.

"In the classroom, I like my classes a lot better this year," continued McClung, who helped B-W win last weekend's Franklin College of Indiana Tournament championship. "I am taking business classes for the most part and they are very interesting. I also took a computer class this fall that will definitely help me in the future. I also think I study more efficently, so my grades are higher too."

"Laura is a player with a great deal of ability and talent," said veteran B-W Head Coach Cheri Harrer, the winningest women's basketball coach in school history. "She is already making a valuable contribution to our program. She is coming off the bench and is doing a great job.

"In addition to basketball, Laura is a solid student and a good role model for our younger players," said Harrer, who led B-W to back-to-back "Elite Eight" finishes in the NCAA Division III Tournaments in 2000 and 2001. "We really spend a lot of time looking to recruit young women who are well-rounded academically, athletically and on-campus. Laura is the whole package. We are really happy to have her at B-W."

"Laura fit in really well right from the start," said senior forward Erika Schultz of Waterville, Ohio. "She is a pretty gregarious person and that helped in the bonding process this summer during open gym. Laura is also a good player who can help our team. She has a lot of talent."

McClung and the Yellow jackets have begun the 2003-2004 season in fine fashion. B-W wopn the season-opening Greater Cleveland College Tipoff Tournament, hosted this year at Oberlin College. The Yellow Jackets defeated Notre Dame College of Ohio in the opener, 78-60, and then beat Cleveland cross-town, nonleague rival Case Western Reserve University, 69-57, in the championships game. It was the second straight year that B-W has beaten CWRU for the GCC tourney title.

"It was a great start to the season," said McClung, who scored two points and added an assist in eight minutes of playing time. "I was pretty nervous my first game, but after a minute or two on the court, I became more comfortable."

In B-W's third game of the season, a 77-62 win against traditional rival Wittenberg University, McClung again gained more confidence. She scored two points, grabbed three rebounds and passed for an assist in seven minutes of playing time.

"Laura came into the game and gave us critical minutes with a positive response," said Harrer. "We know that we can call, on Laura and get a solid effort, both in terms of productions and hustle."

McClung had her best game at B-W in an 81-59 victory at Grove City (Pa.) College on December 4. She played 11 minutes and had six points, four rebounds and an assist and was perfect from the floor by going one of one from the field and four of four from the foul line.

"Laura has played 56 minutes so far, has scored 19 points, grabbed eight rebounds, passed for four assists and made a steal. She is also seven of eitht from the foul line," said Harrer. "That is great production.

"Another big plus with Laura is her attitude," said Harrer. "She knew coming into the season that it would be an adjustment playing at B-W and in the Ohio Athletic Conference and she has handled it very well. Laura is just a joy to work with on a daily basis."

That is ditto for McClung.

"I am just happy to be home and close to my family, going to a good school and playing on a winning basketball team," said McClung, a sophomore academically. "I have to patient for my chance to contribute even more. I will continue to work hard in practice and wait for that chance. When I get it, I will show everyone that I can help this team. So for now, I am just happy to be home."

The Yellow Jacket women will be back in action on Tuesday, December 30 when they host 8-1 overall Albion College of Michigan at the Rudolph Ursprung Gymnasium in Berea for a 3:00 p.m. It is the first of four straight home games for the B-W women, who are also home on January 3 (Marietta at 3:00 p.m.), Jan. 7 (Ohio Northern at 7:30 p.m.) and Jan. 10 (Capital at 3:00 p.m.).

FOR MORE B-W SPORTS INFORMATION, please contact Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone by calling 440-826-2327, by FAX at 440-826-2329 or via e-mail at kruple@bw.edu. To contact Head Coach Cheri Harrer, please call her at 440-826-3299, FAX her at 440-826-2192 or e-mail her at charrer@bw.edu.