Bulldog Returners
Madilyn Caran #42Post – 5-10 – Junior-2LYorktown, Texas (Yorktown)Texas Lutheran2007-08: Returning captain…Solid leader on and off the court…Looks to continue her progression as a post scorer and defender…Could contend for All-ASC and All-West Division honors.
2006-07: Played in 23 games and made 12 starts…Averaged 24.2 minutes per game…Shot 31.1 percent from the field…Did not attempt a three-pointer…50 percent foul shooter…Second on the team in rebounding, at 6.1 per game…62 offensive boards out of 141 total…71 turnovers and 25 assists…Led the team in blocks with 13…Fifth on the team in scoring, at 5.1 per game…Career-best 13 points and 13 rebounds in road loss at University of the Ozarks…Scored in double-digits in three games…Double-digits in rebounds in three games.
2005-06: Played in all 25 games as a true freshman…Averaged 10.8 minutes per game…Hit 39.4 percent of her field goal attempts (26-for-66)…Shot just 43.5 percent from the free throw line (10-for-23)…Secured 69 total rebounds (27 offensive, 42 defensive) for a 2.8 rebound average per game…Scored 62 points and averaged 2.5 points per contest…Came to the basketball team after playing a full season for the TLU women’s volleyball team…Member of the women’s volleyball team that advanced to the ASC Championship Tournament semifinal match.
High SchoolFirst Team All-District all four years…Newcomer of the Year…Player of the Year…Played in San Antonio and CBCA All-Star Games.
PersonalBirth Date: 3-01-87…Daughter of Clay and Robin Caran of Yorktown, Texas…Major: Sociology with a minor in psychology…Career Goals: To travel the world, particularly to Third World countries, and work to improve the standard of living for the less fortunate…Would also like to graduate with a GPA above 3.25 and continue to play basketball and participate in service activities…Hobbies: Fishing…Nickname: “Madi”…Favorite Movie: “Superbad.”
Career StatisticsYear Games FG-FGA Reb-Avg Ast-Avg Pts-Avg05-06 25 26-66 69-2.8 8-0.6 62-2.5
06-07 23 52-167 141-6.1 37-1.6 117-5.1
Career 48 78-233 210-4.38 45-.94 179-3.73
Amber Lowe #20Guard – 5-6 – Junior-1LSugar Land, TexasTexas Lutheran2007-08: One of the best perimeter defenders for the Bulldogs…Smart player…Willing to do whatever it takes to win…Gives all-out effort…One of the top students in the entire TLU Athletics program.
2006-07: Played in all 25 games and made four starts…Averaged 17.6 minutes per game…Shot 23.2 percent from the field and 12.5 percent from the three-point line…69.2 percent free throw shooter…30 assists…34 turnovers…12 steals…Career-best eight points at Trinity…Career-high five rebounds vs. LeTourneau.
High SchoolHome-schooled in Houston…Came from one of the better home school programs in the state…She did play organized basketball for her home school.
PersonalBirth Date: 6-4-86…Daughter of Alger and Cindy Lowe of Sugar Land, Texas…Major: Kinesiology…Plans to become a registered nutritionist…Wants to obtain a master’s degree in nutrition…Hobbies: Running…Biggest Influence On Her Life: Her father and mother…Nickname: “Amber Jack”…Favorite Athlete and Team: Dwyane Wade and the Duke Blue Devils…Favorite Move: She’s The Man…Favorite TV Show: Top Chef…Favorite Musical Artist: Craig Morgan.
Career StatisticsYear Games FG-FGA Reb-Avg Ast-Avg Pts-Avg06-07 25 16-69 35-1.4 30-1.2 43-1.7
Career 25 16-69 35-1.4 30-1.2 43-1.7
Jessica Macias #31Guard – 5-5 – Sophomore-1LSan Antonio, Texas (Harlandale)Texas Lutheran2007-08: Selected as co-team captain with Madilyn Caran…Top returning scorer…Excellent perimeter shooter…Natural shooting guard but will be needed to fill minutes at the point…Should contend for All-ASC and All-West Division honors.
2006-07: Played in 25 games and made 23 starts…Averaged 10.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 5.1 turnovers, 1.3 steals and 0.2 blocks per game…Shot 35.7 percent from the field and 23.5 percent from the three-point line…Hit game-winning shot (and converted free throw on three-point play) to beat Concordia-Austin on the road…Career-best 24 points in road loss at Trinity…24-point outburst was part of seven consecutive games in which she scored in double figures…Also scored 23 in home loss to University of the Ozarks…Nearly had a triple-double against Ozarks (23 points, 8 assists, 8 rebounds)…Career-best nine rebounds in road game at Mississippi College.
High SchoolAll-Region selection…District 30-4A Offensive Most Valuable Player…San Antonio Super Team…KENS 5 Player of the Week…San Antonio Sports Elite Team…Top 10 percent of her class…Ranked 17th out of 286.
PersonalBirth Date: 5-27-88…Daughter of Luis and Irene Macias of San Antonio, Texas…Major: Political Science with a minor in Spanish…Career Goals: To go to law school and become a lawyer…Hobbies: Playing basketball, collecting shoes, and playing video games…Biggest Influences On Her Life: Her mother and father…Interesting Personal Fact: Spanish was her first language…Favorite Athlete: Jason Kidd…Favorite Team: Dallas Cowboys…Favorite Movie: “13 Going on 30”…Favorite TV Show: “SportsCenter”…Favorite Musical Artists: Kanye West and George Strait…Nickname: “J-Mac.”
Career StatisticsYear Games FG-FGA Reb-Avg Ast-Avg Pts-Avg06-07 25 112-314 84-3.4 58-2.3 256-10.2
Career 25 112-314 84-3.4 58-2.3 256-10.2
Nicole Medrano #11Guard – 5-6 – Sophomore-1LSan Antonio, Texas (McCollum)Texas Lutheran2007-08: Versatile player that can play in the front or back court…Hard worker…Returning starter.
2006-07: Started 21 games and played in all 25…Shot 32.7 percent from the field and 9.1 percent from the three-point line…54.5 percent free throw shooter…1.4 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 2.8 turnovers and 0.6 steals per game…Career-best 13 points and four rebounds in road game at Schreiner.
High SchoolAcademic All-District selection…Played for Coach Dodi Sulicia.
PersonalBirth Date: 1-11-87…Daughter of Juan and Sylvia Medrano of San Antonio, Texas…Major: Kinesiology, with minors in education and history…Career Goal: To find a coaching job…Hobbies: Playing basketball…Biggest Influences On Her Life: Her high school coach and her parents…Nickname: “Nick”…Favorite Athlete: Kobe Bryant…Favorite Team: San Antonio Spurs…Favorite Movie: “Love and Basketball”…Favorite Musical Artist: Incubus…Favorite TV Show: “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”
Career StatisticsYear Games FG-FGA Reb-Avg Ast-Avg Pts-Avg06-07 25 33-101 34-1.4 25-1.0 73-2.9
Career 25 33-101 34-1.4 25-1.0 73-2.9
Bulldog Newcomers
Megan Almaraz #10Guard – 5-3 –Freshman-FYSan Antonio, Texas (John Jay)Texas Lutheran2007-08: Slowed by injury in the preseason…Hopes to make return to court this year…Will compete for starting job as point guard.
High SchoolAll-District selection…Team captain…Played on All-Star Team…Team leader in assists…Played for Coach Mike Floyd
PersonalBirth Date: 8-10-89…Daughter of Mike and Vivianne Almaraz of San Antonio, Texas…Major: Education, with minor in English…Career Goal: To find a coaching job…Hobbies: Playing basketball, going out with friends, dancing…Biggest Influences On Her Life: Her brother Matt and her Aunt Irma…Nickname: “Megs”…Favorite Athlete: Steve Nash…Favorite Teams: San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets…Favorite Movie: “Love and Basketball”…Favorite Musical Artists: Mimz, Lil Wayne, Rascal Flatts.
Brittany Burton #55Post/Wing – 5-9 –Freshman-FYMarion, Texas (Marion)Texas Lutheran2007-08: Competing for playing time and starting time as a wing or post…Should only get better with time as she learns the college game.
High SchoolFirst Team All-District in 2005-06 and 2006-07…Academic All-State in 2006-07…Academic All-District in 2005-06…Played for Coach Collin McWhinney.
PersonalBirth Date: 1-19-90…Daughter of Brian Burton and Diane Bouma-Brown…Major: Kinesiology, with minor in business…Career Goal: To open her own gym…Hobbies: Playing basketball, playing with animals…Biggest Influences On Her Life: Her parents…Favorite Team: San Antonio Spurs…Favorite Movie: “Glory Road”…Favorite Musical Artists: George Strait…Favorite TV Show: “Grey’s Anatomy.”
Courtney Haskell #32Post – 5-11 – Freshman-FYSan Antonio, Texas (Southwest)Texas Lutheran2007-08: Tall, athletic post that should contribute immediately to the Bulldogs.
High SchoolAll-District selection…Academic All-District…San Antonio All-Star Game.
PersonalBirth Date: 9-4-88…Daughter of Tamela Haskell of San Antonio, Texas…Major: Psychology…Career Goal: To pursue a career in social work…Hobbies: Playing basketball, eating…Biggest Influences On Her Life: Her mother and grandfather…Nicknames: “Court” or “C”…Favorite Athlete: Gerald Green…Favorite Team: San Antonio Spurs…Favorite Movie: “Love and Basketball”…Favorite Musical Artist: Pretty Ricky…Favorite TV Show: “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”
Marcy Rodriguez #15Guard – 5-8 –Freshman-FYSan Antonio, Texas (Incarnate Word H.S.)Texas Lutheran2007-08: First-year guard competing for immediate playing time.
High SchoolAll-State selection…All-City…Played on regional championship squad.
PersonalBirth Date: 4-18-89…Daughter of Adrian and Joann Rodriguez of San Antonio, Texas…Major: Business…Career Goal: To work in the sports management field…Hobbies: Playing basketball, Guitar Hero…Biggest Influences On Her Life: Her little sister…Real First Name: “Marcella”…Favorite Athlete: Michael Jordan…Favorite Team: Boston Red Sox…Favorite Movie: “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days”…Favorite Musical Artist: Amber Pacific…Favorite TV Show: “The Hills.”
Amanda Usselman #05Guard – 5-6 –Freshman-FYGiddings, Texas (Giddings)Texas Lutheran2007-08: Competing for immediate playing time at one of the guard positions.
High SchoolFirst Team All-District and Second Team All-District selection...Played for Coach Brad Slatton.
PersonalBirth Date: 5-1-88…Daughter of Ricardo and Angela Padron of Giddings, Texas…Major: Kinesiology…Career Goal: To become a coach or physical therapist…Hobbies: Playing basketball, and being with family…Biggest Influences On Her Life: God, and her mother…Favorite Athletes: LeBron James and Tony Parker…Favorite Team: San Antonio Spurs …Favorite Movie: “Finding Nemo.”
Krystal Valencia #04Guard – 5-6 –Freshman-FYSpring, Texas (Klein)Texas Lutheran2007-08: Shooting guard competing for immediate playing time.
High SchoolHonorable Mention All-District selection…Played for Coach Tresh Hornsby.
PersonalBirth Date: 4-11-88…Daughter of Maribel Balanta…Major: Kinesiology, with minor in Spanish…Career Goal: To travel and play overseas, and to finish school…Hobbies: Eating and sleeping…Biggest Influences On Her Life: God, and her mother…Nickname: “Keys”…Favorite Athlete: Michael Jordan…Favorite Movie: “Glory Road”…Favorite Musical Artist: Ne-Yo…Favorite TV Show: “Top Chef.”
