Press Releases

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has recognized Graceland’s Carly Coleman as a 2006 Daktronics-NAIA Women’s Basketball All-America Scholar-Athlete.

Coleman is a 5’7” sophomore guard from Kansas City, Missouri, who played in all 30 games this season, and was the third leading scorer on the team. She had an average of 8.6 points per game, a field goal percentage of 38.1, and free throw percentage of 69.1.

Carly is the daughter of Doug and Dixie Coleman, and she graduated from Oak Park High School and is currently studying elementary education as a Yellowjacket.

To receive the award, each candidate must be a junior or above in academic standing and maintain a cumulative 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale. Nominated by their head coaches, each student-athlete is a contributing member of their respective varsity Women’s basketball team.

Opie Butler will return to the Yellowjacket sidelines this winter as the women’s basketball coach for Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa. Butler previously coached at Graceland from 1997-99.

“I’m excited to again be a part of Graceland basketball,” says Butler. “Next year’s ladies should expect to play an uptempo style of offense and an intense pressure defense. My goal is to field a team that will be fun and exciting to watch, which in turn, should gain fan support and attendance for Yellowjacket athletics.”

Butler led the Graceland women’s basketball team to a 27-38 overall record in his two years at the helm, including a 15-win season his second year. Butler took the ladies to the post-season tournament both years, earning a 2-2 record. Prior to Butler’s arrival in Lamoni, the Jackets were 5-28, which was tied for second to last in the conference.

Butler is also highly regarded for his recruiting ability, which includes Graceland’s first ever women’s basketball All-American and the entire recruiting class from the 1999-2000 team, who went 18-15 and played in the second round of the conference playoffs.

“Coach Butler’s reputation as an outstanding fundamentalist and recruiter is beyond reproach,” said Director of Athletics, Dan Hanton, who coached the women’s basketball team from 1999-2003. “When I took over the women’s basketball team in 1999, I inherited from Opie a number of wonderful student-athletes including 10 freshmen, which made my entry into the collegiate women’s basketball ranks much easier. I am confident that Coach Butler has the ability to do the same thing again eight years later as he ‘jump starts’ the program.”

Prior to his head coaching experience with the GU women’s team, Butler was the men’s head assistant coach at Graceland from 1992-1996. While Butler was with the men’s team, the Yellowjackets posted their first 20-win season in university history.

Butler has more than 13 years of coaching experience from collegiate and international basketball teams. This experience includes three seasons as the men’s basketball head assistant coach for the United States Army. While at this position, Butler’s team compiled an 86-16 record against several NCAA Division I teams. Butler also conducted basketball clinics – for high school and college coaches and athletes – with the Army Recruiting Command.

Butler designed, developed and implemented a comprehensive summer basketball camp program – with more than 1200 campers annually – that put Graceland on the map for camps throughout the Midwest.

Butler returned to Graceland in 2004 after a five-year stint working for the United States Department of Defense as the Director of Athletics from 1999 to 2003 and Director of Recreation in 2003-04.

Butler, who graduated from Graceland in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in recreation, will also serve as the coordinator of indoor athletic facilities and operations.

Opie and his wife, Kyong, have one daughter, Amanda, a sophomore at Lamoni High School in Iowa.

The Heart of America Athletic Conference has honored Graceland’s Michelle McCrady with a third team all-conference award for the 2005-06 basketball season.

McCrady, a 5-4 junior guard, played in 25 games, averaging 12.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.8 steals per game. McCrady, a junior college transfer from St. Louis Community College, shot 37.1 percent from the field, made 82.6 of her free throws and hit 31 of 100 three pointers this season. The Alton, Ill., native led the 5-25 Yellowjackets in free throw makes, attempts and percentage and average total points per game.

In her last game in the Closson Center, senior Jodi Butler hit a three to end the game against Baker University. Graceland lost the game 74-80 to Baker Thursday night in Lamoni, Iowa.

With just 10 seconds remaining in the game, Butler, at six-feet tall, took the shot from the top of the key and drained her only three pointer ever attempted while in a Graceland uniform. Butler ended the game with 17 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal.

Beth Schilling scored 18 points and grabbed six rebounds for the Jackets while Michelle McCrady and Kristin Osborn each added 12 points and seven rebounds. Carly Coleman was just one rebound shy of a double-double, with 11 points and nine boards.

Graceland is now 5-24 overall and 2-17 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. The Jackets travel to Springfield, Mo. to play Evangel University on Saturday, Feb. 18 for the last game of the season.

Kristin Osborn scored 22 points in Graceland’s 73-95 loss to Avila University Thursday night in Lamoni.

Graceland had a great start in the game, but fell behind 27-49 at the half. The Yellowjackets shot 41 percent from the field to tie the Eagles 46-46 in the second period. Overall the Jackets shot 39.2 percent from the field, hitting 20 of 51 shots.

Osborn hit six-of-nine from the field and nine-of-10 free throws to go along with her four rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal. Beth Schilling added 14 points, six boards and three assists while LaQurisha Gray scored 11 points and had five rebounds.

Graceland drops to 5-21 overall and 2-14 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. The Jackets travel to Liberty, Mo. on Saturday to play William Jewell College at 5:30 p.m. and return to the Closson on Thursday, Feb. 16 to host Baker University for senior night. Tip off is set for 5:30 p.m.

Graceland’s Kristin Osborn hit 10 of 11 free throws on her way to 19 points in the Yellowjackets’ 64-74 loss to Lindenwood University Saturday afternoon in Lamoni, Iowa.

Osborn led the team with 19 points, hitting her 10 free throws and one three pointer. Osborn also had eight rebounds and two assists. LaQurisha Gray scored 12 points on her birthday, hitting two threes along the way. Carly Coleman was the third and final Yellowjacket scoring in double-digits with 11 points to go along with her six rebounds and two assists. At five-feet-four-inches, Michelle McCrady pulled down eight rebounds and scored nine points.

Graceland is now 5-20 overall and 2-13 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. The Jackets next host Avila on Feb. 9 at 5:30 p.m. in Lamoni, Iowa.

Junior Michelle McCrady scored 18 points in Graceland’s 55-76 loss to Doane College Tuesday night in Crete, Neb.

McCrady, who led all scorers in the game, hit three treys and three free throws for the Yellowjackets. Carly Coleman added 14 points, three steals and two assists while Jodi Butler grabbed 12 rebounds and had three blocks.

Graceland (4-17) next hosts Culver-Stockton College on Thursday, Feb. 26 at 5:30 p.m.

Graceland senior Jodi Butler scored 10 points, grabbed seven rebounds, snatched three steals and passed two assists in Saturday’s 41-67 loss to Evangel University in Lamoni, Iowa.

Kristin Osborn added 11 points off three treys and Carly Coleman chipped in eight points, four assists and two rebounds for the Yellowjackets.

Graceland falls to 4-15 overall and 1-9 in the conference.

Kristin Osborn and Michelle McCrady each scored 16 points in Graceland’s 66-85 loss to Benedictine College Monday night in Lamoni.

Osborn added seven rebounds, three assists and two steals to her five-for-six shooting night while McCrady hit six-of-seven free throws and had four assists. Senior Jodi Butler grabbed six rebounds and scored six points, and Beth Schilling added six points and five boards.

The Jackets fall to 4-13 overall and 1-7 in the conference.

On Thursday the Jackets play at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kan. before returning to the Closson on Saturday to host Evangel University at 2 p.m.

Saturday afternoon the Graceland University varsity basketball teams returned home for the new year and the second half of their busy season. The women played in game one of the twin bill and came up short, losing to the Cardinals of William Jewell College by a score of 63-78.

In game one the Yellowjacket women had a good balanced attack as four players scored in double digits. Sophomore Laqurisha Gray led the way with 13 points as she shot 4-8 from the field, 2-4 from beyond the arc. Sophomore Kristin Osborn added 12 points as she went 3-8 from the field and fellow sophomore Carley Coleman went 6-13 for her 12. Junior Michelle McCrady went 3-8 for in the game to score 11 total points.

Senior LaShanda Davison came close to a double-double as she pulled down 10 boards and scored seven points mostly from the paint.

The Yellowjacket women’s overall record drops to 4-12, 1-6 in the HAAC.

Both teams return home Monday as they host the Ravens of Benedictine College. The women play first as tip off is set for 5:30 p.m. at the Closson Center in Lamoni, Iowa.

Sophomore Kristin Osborn scored 13 points and pulled down 11 rebounds in Graceland’s 51-72 loss to Ottawa University Monday night in Lamoni, Iowa. In 29 minutes Osborn grabbed seven defensive rebounds and hit four of her nine shots to go along with her two steals and three assists.

Graceland started with a slow first half, scoring just 17 points, opposed to Ottawa’s 33. The Jackets shot 39 percent from the field and 38 percent from the three-point line to score 34 points in the second half.

Senior Jodi Butler scored nine points and grabbed six rebounds and LaShanda Davison scored eight points and had two assists and one block in the non-conference loss.

Graceland next travels to Kansas City to play Avila University on Thursday, then the Jackets return to the Closson on Saturday, January 7 to play William Jewell College at 2 p.m.

On Friday night Graceland senior Jodi Butler led the Jackets with 10 points and eight rebounds in the final game of the 2005 year. Graceland lost the home game 51-69 to the Vikings from Dana College.

Freshman Beth Schilling added 11 points and five assists and sophomore Kristin Osborn scored nine points and grabbed six rebounds in the non-conference loss. The Jackets are now 4-9 overall and 1-4 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference.

Support the Graceland women’s basketball team on Monday, January 2, when they host Ottawa University in the Closson Center at 7 p.m.

On Thursday night Graceland’s Michelle McCrady led the Jackets in scoring for the sixth game this season. McCrady hit Dordt College for 18 points in Graceland’s 62-75 loss.

Graceland jumped to an early 23-14 lead in the game, but Dordt came back for a 34-31 halftime lead. Just one minute into the second half the Jackets took a two-point lead of 37-35. The Dordt Lady Defenders tied the game at 37 and never looked back, making a 10-0 run with 12 minutes to play in the game.

Senior Jodi Butler grabbed 11 boards and Miyshia Towers pulled down eight rebounds as the Jackets out rebounded the Defenders 44-38. LaQurisha Gray and McCrady each had four steals and Kristin Osborn was a perfect three-for-three from the field for eight points.

Graceland returns to the Closson on Friday, December 30 to play Dana College at 6 p.m. then plays Ottawa University on Monday, January 2 at 7 p.m.

The Graceland women’s basketball team lost 68-91 to MidAmerica Nazarene University Thursday night in Lamoni, Iowa. After starting the season 4-1, the Graceland Yellowjackets have dropped five games in a row and now hold a 4-6 overall record.

Michelle McCrady again led the team in scoring, hitting 10 of 12 free throws on her way to 17 points. Jodi Butler grabbed nine rebounds and scored 10 points to go along with her two steals in the conference game. LaQurisha Gray had five steals and six rebounds and Beth Schilling added four steals and three assists for Graceland.

Graceland travels to St. Charles, Mo. to play Lindenwood University on Saturday, December 10 before returning to play Dordt College at the Closson Center on December 15. The tip off is set for 7 p.m. that night.

Graceland guard Michelle McCrady scored 20 points in Monday night’s 76-83 loss to William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

Graceland opened the game with a seven-point lead, but ended the half down by five. In the second half the Lady Statesmen outscored the Yellowjackets by two, 43-41. Graceland shot 46 percent from the field for the game, hitting 12-29 in the first half and 16-32 in the second.

Kristin Osborn scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds and Jodi Butler added 12 points on a five for six shooting night. LaShanda Davison pulled down eight rebounds and McCrady added five rebounds, two assists and two steals to the Yellowjacket attack.

Graceland next plays MidAmerica Nazarene University on Thursday night at 5:30 p.m. in Lamoni, Iowa.

Senior Jodi Butler scored 19 points and grabbed nine rebounds in Saturday’s 67-83 loss to Missouri Valley College in Lamoni, Iowa. Butler also had three steals.

The Jackets had a slow start on Saturday afternoon, but closed the gap to within three going into the locker room at the half. Graceland came out and immediately tied the game following the break, but the Vikings outscored the Jackets 41-28 in the second half to come away with the Missouri Valley win.

Michelle McCrady hit 7-8 free throws and three treys on her way to 18 points to go along with her five steals. LaShanda Davison also scored in double-digits with 12 and had four assists and five rebounds.

The Jackets next travel to Oskaloosa, Iowa to play William Penn University at 8 p.m.

Graceland women's basketball lost 45-68 to Culver-Stockton College Thursday night in Canton, Mo. The Jackets are now 4-3 overall and 1-1 in the HAAC.

Michelle McCrady offered the spark for the Jackets on Thursday, hitting 9-10 free throws and scoring 16 total points. LaShanda Davison had a steady night, pulling down nine rebounds and scoring eight points. Sophomore Carly Coleman snatched four steals from the Wildcats and LaQurisha Gray had three assists on the night.

The Jackets struggled offensively, shooting only 20 percent from the field and 14 percent from the three point line, as opposed to Culver's 46 percent overall and 27 percent from three-point land. Overall this season, the Jackets are shooting 33 percent from the field and 33 percent from behind the arc.

Graceland next plays Missouri Valley College on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Lamoni. Saturday is Yellowjacket Day at Graceland, sponsored by American State Bank. All fans will be offered free admission to the game, along with free popcorn, hotdogs and drinks.

The Graceland women’s basketball won their fourth game of the season Tuesday night in Forest City, Iowa. The Yellowjackets beat Waldorf College 69-54.

Kristin Osborn was again the heart of the Graceland team, leading the way with 22 points, eight rebounds, four steals and one assist. Osborn scored 18 of her points from behind the three-point arc. Freshman Beth Schilling grabbed nine rebounds to go along with her four points, assists and steals. LaQurisha Gray scored 12 points and was 3-3 from three-point land. Gray added three assists and four steals to the Graceland attack.

The Jackets will play Grand View College on November 29 at 6 p.m. in Lamoni, Iowa.

The Graceland women’s basketball team won their second game of the season Friday night. The Yellowjackets beat Bethany College 67-64 to go 2-0 on the season.

Graceland shot 43 percent from the field and 53 percent from the three-point line on their way to the three point win over the Swedes. The teams were tied at 34 starting the second half, then the Jackets outscored the Swedes 33-30 in the second half to get the win.

Graceland was again led by Kristin Osborn’s scoring, shooting 6-12 overall, 4-6 from three-point land and 7-9 at the charity stripe on her way to 23 total points. She also had three rebounds, two steals and two assists. Junior college transfer Michelle McCrady hit two threes and 3-4 freethrows in her first game as a Yellowjacket. McCrady ended the night with 13 points, five rebounds three assists and one steal.

The Jackets host conference opponent Central Methodist University Thursday night at 5:30 p.m. in the Closson Center.

The Graceland women’s basketball team opened the 2005-06 season with a 77-73 overtime win over William Penn University from Oskaloosa, Iowa on Tuesday night.

With seven minutes remaining in the game, Laqurisha Gray hit two threes to tie the game at 52. Those six points were just a part of Gray’s 16 total points, on a 5-10 shooting night. Gray also had six assists and two steals.

Kristin Osborn was the high scorer for the night with 22, hitting three of seven threes and nine for ten from the free throw line. Osborn also ruled the boards, grabbing nine rebounds. Carly Coleman scored 16 points and had six assists in the first game of the season.

Graceland next travels to Lindsborg, Kan. on Friday to play Bethany College at 7 p.m.