Women's Basketball | September 26, 2017

KALAMAZOO, Mich. --  The Western Michigan Division of Intercollegiate Athletics will induct the 2017 Hall of Fame class on Friday, Sept. 29, at the Fetzer Center. The inductees also will be introduced at the Mid-American Conference home-opening football game vs. Ball State on Sept. 30 at Waldo Stadium at 7 p.m. This week www.wmubroncos.com will take a closer look at each of our inductees:  Allen Hughes (football), Robert Louis (men's track & field), Ron Miller (wrestling), Casey Rost-Danzy (women's basketball), and Laura Stewart (softball).

CASEY ROST-DANZY
Casey Rost-Danzy, a native of St. Johns, Mich., played for the Western Michigan women's basketball team from 2002-06. Rost led her team to the 2003 MAC Tournament Championship and was named the MAC Tournament MVP. She was also a three-time First Team All-MAC selection (2003, '04, '06). Rost was the first player in program history to be named MAC Player of the Year in 2004 and also became the first WMU basketball player (male or female) to reach 2,000 points. She currently sits second all-time in scoring with 2,061 points. Rost is the program leader in three-point percentage at .406, and the all-time leader in three pointers with 280. She is only one of two players in program history to twice earn Honorable Mention All-American honors and a two-time Kodak Honorable Mention All-American (2004, '06).
Q & A With Casey Rost-Danzy

Q: What was your reaction when you found out you were being inducted?
I was very excited when I found out I was being inducted into the Hall of Fame.  There are so many gifted athletes that have paved the way for me and to be in the same elite group as them is very surreal and humbling.  It is an amazing feeling to know that all my hard work, dedication, sacrifice, and perseverance have paid off.   I am extremely proud of myself and thankful to those who supported me along the way!  

Q: Do you have some favorite memories from your time playing at WMU?
One of my favorite memories while playing at WMU is when we won the MAC Championship. We were a four-seed and had a difficult task of having to win four consecutive games to be champions.  We surprised a lot of people by coming together at the right time and knocking out the higher ranked teams along the way. Winning the MAC tournament meant we got the chance to play in the NCAA Tournament and I remember sitting in the locker room anxiously awaiting our draw as we gathered around the TV. We were matched up against Stanford at Stanford, but it was a great experience. Another favorite memory of mine is when I broke the scoring record and later became the first player, female or male to score 2,000 points.  I joked with my family that they needed to be on time to the game because I only needed one point.  We won the jump ball and I hit a shot off the block only seconds into the game.  One of my other favorite memories is the day my twin brother, Levi, signed to come play at WMU.  I was so excited to have him there to share the journey with.  

Q: Who were some of the people at Western Michigan that made your time memorable?
I red-shirted due to an ACL injury so had five seasons with WMU.  That is five years with all kinds of amazing people.  From my teammates, to faculty, to administration, to fans, to dance/cheer/band, to game staff, they all made my playing experience memorable.  

Q: Have you kept up with the program since you left?
I have followed the program since I retired from playing professionally overseas.  I coach high school girls' basketball and have brought my players to several games.  I love the direction that Coach Clipfell is taking the program.  

Q: What has life been like for you since leaving Western Michigan?
After graduating from WMU, I played four seasons professionally abroad before damaging two disks in my lower back.  This forced me to retire from playing earlier than I had hoped, but I quickly dove into coaching.  For the past 16 years, I have run basketball camps and love working with kids so it only made sense.  I have coached at every level from youth to college.  Now, I passionately run the girls' basketball program at Kalamazoo Loy Norrix High School. 
 
My husband, Lance, and I live in Kalamazoo with our two children, Lance Jr., and Zayah.  Playing basketball has been replaced with chasing my two little ones around and I am perfectly okay with that.