Hampton grad Kayla Hoehler hits ground running for Pitt-Greensburg women’s hoops

The unexpected news rattled Hampton’s Kayla Hoehler.

Four months after signing a national letter of intent to play basketball at Pitt-Greensburg, Hoehler learned then-Bobcats coach Kelsey Oddis was stepping down after one season.

“Honestly, it threw me off,” Hoehler said. “She was definitely one of the main reasons why I decided to come here. I took that pretty hard.”

Hoehler, a four-year starter for the Talbots, had to make a decision. The 2022 Hampton graduate had “other options” and admits her “thoughts did change for a bit.”

But Hoehler honored her commitment and two months later, in late May 2022, Pitt-Greensburg hired Darien Lantz, a former assistant at Thiel.

“I decided to stick it out because I really did love the program and the girls and the college itself and the education program,” Hoehler said. “All of those factors helped me continue to go here.

“Then coach Lantz made me feel a lot more comfortable.”

It got even better for Hoehler. Oddis, who had resigned to take a job in the school’s admissions office, joined Lantz’s staff as an assistant.

“I’m thankful that coach Kelsey is still helping with the team,” Hoehler said.

Hoehler is also helping. With injury-riddled Pitt-Greensburg dressing only six or seven players for some early-season games, the 5-foot-9 freshman shooting guard took on a big role. She played 26 minutes in her first collegiate game, against Carlow, and started the next game against Mount Union on Nov. 17, finishing with a season-high 17 points while playing a team-high 38 minutes.

Against Seton Hill on Nov. 22, she scored a team-high 11 points and played all 40 minutes for the Division III Bobcats, who were down to six healthy players.

“I felt like I handled that pretty well,” Hoehler said. “I loved the coaches having to rely on me and having to step it up. Obviously, I felt some pressure. But I really just loved being in there and playing.”

Hoehler is averaging nearly 25 minutes a game, tops among the Bobcats’ seven freshmen. She ranks in the top 10 among freshmen in minutes per game in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference.

“I am fully confident with her in those situations,” Lantz said. “She goes all out every single practice. She’s very intense in the game, she’s very passionate about it.”

Hoehler is averaging 7.0 points and 3.2 rebounds through Jan. 24 for the Bobcats (7-10, 3-3 in AMCC), who won six out of seven after their 0-6 injury-ravaged start. She is also tied for the team lead with 11 blocks and fourth with 15 steals.

Hoehler has had some adversity. She suffered a concussion after colliding with a teammate going for a rebound against Penn State Behrend on Jan. 14. Hoehler missed one game but returned to play 14 minutes in a 71-55 victory over Pitt-Bradford on Jan. 21.

Another concern is her shooting, which belies her on-the-mark days from Hampton. She is shooting only 25.5% from the field (39-153) and 24.1% from 3-point range (20-83). In one five-game stretch ending Jan. 24, she went 2 of 21 on 3-point attempts.

“I think that will turn around,” Lantz said. “I think the last couple of games have been a little bit of a fluke for her.”

Hoehler is also optimistic she will regain the consistency that helped her earn second-team all-section honors three times at Hampton.

“Personally, I feel like I’m doing pretty well,” Hoehler said. “Obviously, I have high expectations for myself so I know there is so much more that I can do and give. But as a freshman, I would say that I am contributing pretty well to the team and I am proud with how I am doing.”