University of Minnesota Athletics
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/ Women's Basketball
Minnesota Inks Bershers, Christian for 2025-26
11/13/2024 8:14:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota head coach Dawn Plitzuweit announced that Zoey Bershers and Makena Christian have signed to join the Minnesota women's basketball program for the 2025-26 season.
"This is a very thrilling day as we are able to welcome two incredible young ladies and their families into our Gopher Women's Basketball Program," said head coach Dawn Plitzuweit. "Makena Christian and Zoey Bershers are both top-notch students, they have competed at the highest levels with their High School teams and on the AAU circuit, they have winning pedigrees, and they are tremendous leaders for their teams! We are excited for Makena and Zoey to come join our program at the University of Minnesota!"
Zoey Bershers | Post | Farmington, Arkansas | Farmington High School
Bershers joins the Golden Gophers as an elite player, earning Arkansas All-Conference, All-State, and All-State Tournament Selections as a freshman, sophomore and junior. After going undefeated and earning back-to-back region and 4A state titles with Farmington High School, Bershers earned the No. 3 ranking overall in the state of Arkansas and No. 1 among post players by Prep Girls Hoops. In her most recent campaign, Bershers averaged 11 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game; notably, she held a 58% shooting percentage. Her experience and leadership helped Farmington High School attain the title of the No. 1 ranked team in the state regardless of classification. Bershers plays AAU with the San Antonio Finest and her older sisters, Tracey and Sara, both compete at the University of Alabama Birmingham on their Women's Basketball team.
"I chose the University of Minnesota because it was a great fit athletically and academically," said Bershers. "The team, coaches and culture here make me excited to play in a competitive conference like the Big Ten. I'm very excited to begin my journey as a Golden Gopher!"
Coach Plitzuweit on Bershers:
"Zoey is an incredible student with a 3.9 GPA and is someone who will excel here at the University of Minnesota as she pursues a career in Occupational Therapy. Zoey really got our staff's attention this past spring and summer while playing with SA Finest. We saw her ability as a post player to play on the block and to influence the game by scoring and rebounding down low but then when Zoey stepped out to the perimeter and was shooting it from the arc and handling it, we saw how well she fit into our versatile style of play. What is also impressive about Zoey is that her Farmington High School team has had success every season and has capped off the past two years with back to back state championships! We are thrilled about Zoey choosing to come to Minnesota and we are so happy to welcome her and the Bershers family to Gopher nation."
Makena Christian | Guard | Lomira, Wisconsin | Hartford Union High School
Ranked as one of the top guards from the state of Wisconsin, Christian brings an edge to the Gophers' squad as the No. 52 ranked recruit in the latest 2024 ESPN/Hoopgurlz top 100 rankings. In her most recent season, the guard averaged 25.3 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per contest. Christian was named the Wisconsin State Player of the Year while earning All-State accolades. As a junior, she led Hartford Union to the North Shore Conference Championship and also led the Orioles to the state semifinal game. During that same season, she scored 43 points, a career high and set the school record, against McFarland. Makena is also Hartford's all time leader in rebounds. Notably, she's the first member of her family to play a collegiate sport and has been recognized as the No. 3 overall recruit and No. 1 guard from the state of Wisconsin in the Prep Girls Hoops rankings. Christian competes for the Wisconsin Lakers AAU squad and played alongside current Gopher, Grace Grocholski.
"I chose the University of Minnesota because I connected with and loved the entire coaching staff," said Christian. "Their philosophy is something that really resonated with me. The university is also close to my friends and family, so I'm excited to have them near me to support my basketball career."
Coach Plitzuweit on Christian:
"Makena is a very good student who is currently undecided in her career path academically so it's great that she can take advantage of all of our options here at Minnesota. On the court, our staff has been able to watch Makena play for many years as she has competed with Grace Grocholski on the AAU Circuit for the Wisconsin Lakers. Makena is a very versatile player who shoots it from long range, she sees the floor and she passes extremely well in addition to being comfortable playing with her back to the basket. During her high school career, Makena led her Hartford team to their first state tournament berth since 2000! We are elated to have Makena and the Christians joining our Gopher family here in the Twin Cities."
"This is a very thrilling day as we are able to welcome two incredible young ladies and their families into our Gopher Women's Basketball Program," said head coach Dawn Plitzuweit. "Makena Christian and Zoey Bershers are both top-notch students, they have competed at the highest levels with their High School teams and on the AAU circuit, they have winning pedigrees, and they are tremendous leaders for their teams! We are excited for Makena and Zoey to come join our program at the University of Minnesota!"
Zoey Bershers | Post | Farmington, Arkansas | Farmington High School
Bershers joins the Golden Gophers as an elite player, earning Arkansas All-Conference, All-State, and All-State Tournament Selections as a freshman, sophomore and junior. After going undefeated and earning back-to-back region and 4A state titles with Farmington High School, Bershers earned the No. 3 ranking overall in the state of Arkansas and No. 1 among post players by Prep Girls Hoops. In her most recent campaign, Bershers averaged 11 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game; notably, she held a 58% shooting percentage. Her experience and leadership helped Farmington High School attain the title of the No. 1 ranked team in the state regardless of classification. Bershers plays AAU with the San Antonio Finest and her older sisters, Tracey and Sara, both compete at the University of Alabama Birmingham on their Women's Basketball team.
"I chose the University of Minnesota because it was a great fit athletically and academically," said Bershers. "The team, coaches and culture here make me excited to play in a competitive conference like the Big Ten. I'm very excited to begin my journey as a Golden Gopher!"
Coach Plitzuweit on Bershers:
"Zoey is an incredible student with a 3.9 GPA and is someone who will excel here at the University of Minnesota as she pursues a career in Occupational Therapy. Zoey really got our staff's attention this past spring and summer while playing with SA Finest. We saw her ability as a post player to play on the block and to influence the game by scoring and rebounding down low but then when Zoey stepped out to the perimeter and was shooting it from the arc and handling it, we saw how well she fit into our versatile style of play. What is also impressive about Zoey is that her Farmington High School team has had success every season and has capped off the past two years with back to back state championships! We are thrilled about Zoey choosing to come to Minnesota and we are so happy to welcome her and the Bershers family to Gopher nation."
Makena Christian | Guard | Lomira, Wisconsin | Hartford Union High School
Ranked as one of the top guards from the state of Wisconsin, Christian brings an edge to the Gophers' squad as the No. 52 ranked recruit in the latest 2024 ESPN/Hoopgurlz top 100 rankings. In her most recent season, the guard averaged 25.3 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per contest. Christian was named the Wisconsin State Player of the Year while earning All-State accolades. As a junior, she led Hartford Union to the North Shore Conference Championship and also led the Orioles to the state semifinal game. During that same season, she scored 43 points, a career high and set the school record, against McFarland. Makena is also Hartford's all time leader in rebounds. Notably, she's the first member of her family to play a collegiate sport and has been recognized as the No. 3 overall recruit and No. 1 guard from the state of Wisconsin in the Prep Girls Hoops rankings. Christian competes for the Wisconsin Lakers AAU squad and played alongside current Gopher, Grace Grocholski.
"I chose the University of Minnesota because I connected with and loved the entire coaching staff," said Christian. "Their philosophy is something that really resonated with me. The university is also close to my friends and family, so I'm excited to have them near me to support my basketball career."
Coach Plitzuweit on Christian:
"Makena is a very good student who is currently undecided in her career path academically so it's great that she can take advantage of all of our options here at Minnesota. On the court, our staff has been able to watch Makena play for many years as she has competed with Grace Grocholski on the AAU Circuit for the Wisconsin Lakers. Makena is a very versatile player who shoots it from long range, she sees the floor and she passes extremely well in addition to being comfortable playing with her back to the basket. During her high school career, Makena led her Hartford team to their first state tournament berth since 2000! We are elated to have Makena and the Christians joining our Gopher family here in the Twin Cities."
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