Owens Sophomore, Wright, Signs With California University of Pennsylvania

Paige Wright attempts a jumper off a fast break against Cincinnati State in the district championship game. Photo by Geoff Roberts/Owens Sports Information
Paige Wright attempts a jumper off a fast break against Cincinnati State in the district championship game. Photo by Geoff Roberts/Owens Sports Information
Posted: May 14, 2014

By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Toledo, Ohio---Paige Wright (Northrop/Fort Wayne, Ind.), a sophomore guard/forward for the Owens Community College women's basketball team, has signed with California University of Pennsylvania, an NCAA Division II school in California, Penn.

Wright started 26 games for Owens last year and averaged 10.2 points, six rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game. She led the team assists and steals, while finishing fourth in scoring and second in rebounding. She finished 57-for-155 (36.8 percent) from 3-point range.

"I am really excited Paige decided to spend her last two years of collegiate basketball at Cal U," said California University of Pennsylvania head women's basketball coach Jess Strom. "She's going to bring an outside shooting threat along with an all-around offensive arsenal to us next season. I expect her to contribute right away with her experience and knowledge of the game."

In addition to her statistical averages this past season, Wright had a triple double (13 pts, 10 reb, 10 asst) in a Jan. 29 win over Edison Community College. She also nearly had a second triple-double later in the season. Overall, she scored in double figures in all but nine games, had 10 or more rebounds four times and 10 or more assists three times.

Following the season, Wright was named Honorable Mention All-Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC). She led the conference in assists.

Notes

Wright helped the Owens women's basketball team finished 26-3 last year. Along the way, they won a program record 18 straight games and finished just one win away from a second straight trip to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II National Tournament.

Prior to playing for Owens, Wright transferred from Saginaw Valley State University where she played her freshman year.

Wright becomes the fifth Owens women's basketball player to sign with an NCAA Division II school in the past two years. She joins Uniqua Mitchell (Claflin University), Emma-Jean Ricketts (Ursuline College), Karahn Scott (Claflin University) and Nandi Taylor (Kentucky State University).

The California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball program finished 18-9 overall last year with an 11-5 record in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). They are led by Strom, who will be entering her fourth year as their head coach.