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Sports

OU Guard Elzabeth Hafeli Has Big Sister Watching from the Bench

Player's sister, Anne Noja, is an assistant coach for the Golden Grizzlies, who play tomorrow at home.

Elizabeth Hafeli and her older sister Anne Noja never got to play on any basketball teams together growing up, given that there is a four-year age difference.

But now Hafeli and her recently married sister are on the same team, even if they aren't both eligible to play.

Hafeli is a transfer from Adrian College who is a part of the Oakland University basketball team for her senior year. Noja is a second-year assistant coach. The Golden Grizzlies (2-3) play Cornell at 1 p.m. Sunday.

So what's it like for Hafeli, a 5-foot-10 guard, to play for her sister--a key member of coach Beckie Francis's staff?

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"I felt like it's a once-in-a-lifetime chance to play under Anne and be part of a great team at Oakland," said Hafeli. "I also get to be a Division 1 athlete which is an amazing experience."

Through five games Hafeli is averaging 2.7 points as a reserve.

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Hafeli transferred to Oakland because of her interest in a nursing career after college. Oakland is known for having one of the top nursing programs in the state and the access to Southeastern Michigan's many nursing opportunities was attractive to Hafeli, who like her older sister went to Bloomfield Hills Lahser High School.

She wasn't even planning to further pursue her basketball career. But when a couple of openings were made available on the team, Hafeli spoke to many people, including her big sister, to gauge whether she should resume her career.

"I've always looked up to her and trusted her judgment," Hafeli said about her sister, a four-year letter-winner at Oakland. "She said she would support me whatever my decision was but that I wouldn't get any special treatment. I would have to earn (a roster spot)."

Noja, the 10th highest-scoring player in Oakland's history, is starting her second year as an assistant coach under Francis. Over the course of her four-year college career Noja averaged 12.6 points and ranks second all-time at OU in 3-point field goals made with 235. Her .852 free throw percentage also ranks second in OU history.

She was a two-time all-conference selection and was part of a league championship team her senior year.

After college she spent three years in the banking industry, working as a mortgage lender and personal banker. But when the opportunity arose to become a part of Francis's staff on a full-time basis, she jumped at it.

"I've had such a close relationship with (Francis) and I guess there has always been a part of me that wanted to coach at some level," Noja said. "I'm very competitive."

Noja admits that the coaching profession is often one that requires numerous job changes and movement, but the stability at Oakland has been significant with Francis heading the program for 11 seasons and many former players serving as assistants for both Francis and men's head coach Greg Kampe.

"It's the kind of job where you often get bounced around. But this is a tight-knit group, not just the coaching staff but the (athletic department) administration," she said.

At Adrian Hafeli played for three seasons, seeing action in 71 games. She made 24 starts and for her career averaged 5.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. She enjoys having the opportunity to play for a NCAA tournament contender.

"I think our players are very motivated and we've really done a lot to promote team leadership," Noja said.

As for sibling rivalry? Both are delaying any one-on-one after-practice battles until at least the end of the season. The last time they competed like that was when Noja was in college and Hafeli was starring at Lahser.

"We may at some point, but right now and for this year we're focused on the team," Elizabeth said. "We have the potential to have a special year."

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