Girls GMC Represented On Xavier Women's Team

After losing the best team that Xavier University ever had, first year coach Amy Waugh is rebuilding with local talent.

The former Musketeer player started three women, at various times, that honed their skills in the Greater Miami Conference in the Cincinnati suburbs.

Amber Gray out of Lakota West High School is the most noted player of the group.  Gray was the Enquirer Girls Player of the Year in her senior season for the Firebirds.  She was good enough to land a scholarship to play for the famous Pat Summit at Tennessee before returning home to recover from

Gray has started 12 games for the Musketeers this season after earning plenty of playing time with last year's team that was upset in the regional final by Louisville.  Gray saw playing time as a freshman at Tennessee but had to teak a medical redshirt due to an aneurysm.  She received a waiver from the NCAA that allowed her to play her sophomore season of eligibility with Xavier.

Gray is averaging 8.8 points a game and 5.9 rebounds.

Jessica Pachko played at Oak Hills High School for four season on the varsity. She was named South West Regional Player of the Year after leading the Highlanders to a district title.

Pachko played two season at Marquette and was second on the team in scoring as a sophomore at 10.4 points per game.  She transferred to Xavier last season and had to sit out her transfer year.

Pachko has been a starter in all 18 games this season, averaging 9.6 points and 8.8 rebounds through the first 17 games.

Ashley Wanniger was recruited out of Colerain High School where she started all four years.  Her high school coaches had plenty of Xavier connections.  She played for a former Musketeer, Nickie Kramer Drew then the wife of current Xavier men's head coach, Kristi Hester Mack.

Wanninger known for her effective outside shot, averaged 16.3 points per game and five rebounds for the Cardinals. She was named D1 All Ohio.

Wanniger had to learn the system as a backup for Katie Rutan, who transferred.  Wanniger has taken advantage of the opportunity.  Her first career start was against Morehead State on December 6.  She has been in the starting lineup in each of the last six contests, including Tuesdays matchup with Temple at the Cintas Center.

She is averaging 2.8 points per game and 1.4 rebounds.

The trio's familiarity with each other is starting to show on the basketball court in spite of the Musketeers current 3-15 record and its 64-38 loss to Temple.

"Jessica and I have played with each other since the 5th or 6th grade," Gray said.  "Ashley played in the same organization."

Having been rivals at the high school level wasn't a challenge for Gray and Pachko, who are two years older than Wanniger.

"We knew each other's names. It wasn't a challenge," Gray said.  "Ashley brings a lot to the team.  She's a vocal leader at practice."  Pachko agreed.

Wanniger admitted to a bit of a challenge at first.  "I was scared to death  of them in high school.  They already had a name.  Every time I went up against them, I was that little freshman," Wanniger said.

Waugh sees the entire Xavier team coming together even if its record doesn't indicate it.  "There is only eight of them now," Waugh said.  "I see the team coming together.  When you get into college in practice every day, you start to come together quickly.  Those three had an advantage but the rest of the team is catching up."