Jay Daubenberger
Liberal, Kansas – Dreams become reality for Xoe Rosalez as she will trade in the Green and White after one season with Seward County for Red and White after signing to the Division 1 level to the Youngstown State Penguins to continue her basketball and academic career at the college level.
During her only season with the Lady Saitns, Rosalez averaged 9.8 points per game along with 4.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.2 steals. She reached the double figures mark in thirteen games for Seward County which started right off the bat in game one against #5 New Mexico where she scored a season high of 26 points while going 10-12 from the free throw line. She reached the 20+ mark in two other games throughout the 2023-24 season with 20 points in a win over Cisco and 25 points on 57% shooting in a win over Garden City. Manning the point guard spot Rosalez was also able to find her open teammates to score recording 5+ assists in five games as a sophomore with an 8-assist game against Cloud County where she also hauled in 7 rebounds as she flirted with a triple double.
She will be heading to Youngstown, Ohio to help a Penguin team that fought back and forth in the Horizon league a season ago as they finished 14-18 overall with a 9-11 record in conference action. YSU was able to get some big wins for their program throughout the season with wins over Xavier to kick off the 2023-24 season and Akron at home and managed to take a first-round win in the Horizon League Tournament against IUPUI. Rosalez will step in and be an immediate factor as a combo guard that can score and distribute while disrupting her opponents on the defensive end during her first year at the Division 1 level in the 2024-25 season.
“Youngstown State is getting someone that works diligently on her craft. Everyday Xoe Rosalez is in the gym, working on ball handling, her shot, moves to beat her defender. Xoe will help their program from day one” said Head Coach Will Marchino. “It was always Xoe’s goal to become a Division One basketball player. This opportunity will allow her to check off one of her goals. We couldn’t be more excited for Xoe, her family, and the Youngstown State Women’s Basketball program.”