The closing of Notre Dame College after the 2023-24 academic year produced a windfall for the Lake Erie College women’s basketball program. Lauren Macer, the former NDC head coach and 2020 Mountain East Conference Coach of the Year, got the job at LEC in May. Macer compiled an 89-57 record in five seasons at NDC, leading the Falcons to the 2020 MEC tournament title and a berth in the NCAA Division II tournament. “I was familiar with this program and believed it could be successful,” Macer said of taking the LEC job after the Storm stumbled to a 3-23 finish last season. “Coming here allowed me to stay in the same recruiting territory and maintain coaching connections.” Macer wasted no time in persuading three former NDC standouts — 6-foot junior forward Noel Weathers, 5-9 senior guard Lilee Carlson and 5-7 senior guard Kennadi Harris — to join her in making the move from South Euclid to Painesville. Weathers averaged team-high totals of 13.0 points, 9.1 rebounds and 65 blocked shots last season, Carlson averaged 10.3 points while Harris added 9.4 points and 3.5 rebounds. “They all were being recruited by other (Division II) schools,” Macer said. “The connection I had with them definitely helped in getting them to come here.” Macer is counting on those three transfers to provide consistent production at both ends of the floor as the Storm strive for upward mobility in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. The G-MAC compares favorably to the MEC in terms of top-to-bottom toughness, Macer said. Junior guard and Cornerstone Christian product Aislyn Hurst (8.3 points, 4.5 rebounds) heads the list of LEC returnees who will compete for roles as starters and rotation players. Hurst is joined by junior forward Grace Lyon (8.9 points, 4.3 rebounds), senior guard Anna Ibos (8.7 points, 4.1 rebounds), sophomore forward and Mentor product Kylie Maxwell (5.5 points, 4.4 rebounds) and junior guard Emma Fouch (5.1 points). Also making bids for playing time are sophomore forward Megan Mares and freshman guards Jaicee Wallace and Caitlin Titler. Lake Erie College women's basketball coach Lauren Macer. (Courtesy Lake Erie College)Lake Erie College's Noel Weathers. (Courtesy Lake Erie College)Lake Erie College's Lilee Carlson. (Courtesy Lake Erie College)Lake Erie College's Kennadi Harris. (Courtesy Lake Erie College)Show Caption1 of 4Lake Erie College women's basketball coach Lauren Macer. (Courtesy Lake Erie College)Expand LEC women’s basketball 2024-25 schedule (Home games in CAPS) November 12: BRYANT & STRATTON, 6 p.m. 19: Clarion, 5:30 p.m. 24: D’Youville, 5:30 p.m. 27: Slippery Rock, 1 p.m. December 3: Kentucky Wesleyan, 5:30 p.m. 5: Thomas More, 5:30 p.m. 14: MALONE, 1 p.m. 16: ASHLAND, 5:30 p.m. 19: SALEM, 1 p.m. January 2: Northwood, 5:30 p.m. 4: Hillsdale, 1 p.m. 9: KENTUCKY WESLEYAN, 5:30 p.m. 16: THOMAS MORE, 5:30 p.m. 18: HILLSDALE, 1 p.m. 23: URSULINE 5:30 p.m. 25: Ashland, 1 p.m. 30: Malone, 5:30 p.m. February 4: OHIO DOMINICAN, 5:30 p.m. 6: Ohio Dominican, 5:30 p.m. 13: Cedarville, 5:30 p.m. 15: Ursuline, 1 p.m. 20: Walsh 5:30 p.m. 22: TIFFIN, 1 p.m. 17: NORTHWOOD, 5:30 p.m. March 1: Findlay, 1 p.m.