Head coach Jeff Walz of the Louisville women’s basketball team announced on Monday the addition of transfer forward Hennie van Schaik to the Cardinals’ roster. Coming from Cal State Bakersfield, van Schaik will be eligible to play in the 2023-24 season and has two years of eligibility remaining.
“We are excited to announce the addition of Hennie van Schaik to our Cardinal Family,” said Walz. “Hennie is a 6-3 versatile post player who can score and defend on the perimeter as well as the paint. She hails from CSU-Bakersfield where she was a two-year starter, as well as the leading scorer and rebounder. Hennie is also a member of the Dutch National Team and has participated in numerous FIBA competitions. Hennie will solidify a strong front line and will present a unique mismatch with her skill set. Her toughness and tenacity will be an exciting attribute for the Cardinal faithful!”
During her tenure at Cal State Bakersfield, van Schaik played in 22 games and made 20 starts for the Roadrunners in the past season. She led the team with an impressive 11.6 points per game and 7.2 rebounds per game, and also averaged 1.2 assists, 0.7 blocks, and 0.7 steals per game. She scored in double digits in 16 games and had 10 or more rebounds in four games last season. Van Schaik’s career-best performance came against CSUN on Feb. 23 when she scored 19 points, and she grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds in the double OT win over No. 1 seed UC Irvine in the Big West Tournament Quarterfinals.
In her first season with the Roadrunners in 2021-22, van Schaik played in 25 games and made 16 starts. She averaged 4.3 points and 3.2 rebounds for the season and made her collegiate debut against Bethesda (CA) on Nov. 9. In her first college game, van Schaik scored 13 points and 14 rebounds for a double-double, earning her a spot on the All-Big West Freshman team following the season.
Born in Urk, Netherlands, van Schaik graduated from the Centre for Sports and Education in Zwolle in 2021. Her team competed in the highest conference in the Netherlands, winning a national championship in 2018. Van Schaik remains an active member of the Dutch Women’s National Team and has participated in previous FIBA events with the national team. Her addition to the Cardinals promises to bring a new level of skill and intensity to the team in the upcoming seasons.