Detroit sophomore guard Lauren Allen (Rochester, MI/Rochester) is featured in this week's women's basketball Q&A.

Why did you choose Detroit?
I ended up choosing Detroit because it is close to home and my grandmother went here back in the day. Those are basically my main two reasons. But, when I met Coach Rad(emacher) she was very engaging and so was Coach Emily and Coach Carrie and I spent a lot of time up here in the summer.

Did your grandmother play sports at Detroit?
No, she was just a student.

How is it going to a school so close to home?
It's better than people probably think it is. It's easy for me to use my mom's car or if I'm hungry and I don't want to eat Loft foot, she'll come down and take me to Nicky D's. She's always there on speed dial!

What other schools recruited you?
It was just really Detroit and Niagara. Detroit was my first visit, so when Coach Piepho was here we went to breakfast and he asked me what I was going to do and I just committed. I felt like this would be a good place for me to be because he said when I came in I would get playing time; I really wanted to go somewhere that I would play right away.

Has it always been a goal of yours to play collegiate ball?
Yes, because I figured this would be a free ticket for my education. Also, my dad said that if I was to get a full scholarship that he would buy me a Cadillac truck, but I'm still waiting to see that happen.

How old were you when you started playing basketball?
I was little. However old I was when I could start dribbling the ball between my legs even though I wasn't doing it the right way. I would go with my dad when he would play racquetball and I'd go on that court and start dribbling and acting like I was shooting on the basketball court. I was very little…maybe about four feet or so.

Does athletics run in your family?
I have a cousin who plays football for Florida State. My sister ran track and played tennis, but no longer. My little brother is working on being a breakdancer; he's four-years old.

Who has your biggest influence been throughout your playing career?
My dad's been a big influence because he's always trying to help me work on my shot and get my percentage up. My mom is also a big influence, even though I don't think that she knows a lot about basketball, she's always saying whatever comes to her mind about what I should do on the court.

What professional athlete to you most admire?
Deana Nolan; I really admire her game. My aunt does her hair, I've been around her and she has talked to me about how it is playing overseas. To have a chance to chill with her for more than five minutes, has helped.

What kind of advice did your dad, a former college basketball player, have for you before your first year as a Titan?
On the first day when I moved in, he said try it first before I make any decisions and I'm here on a full ride and don't take it for granted and to stay focused on the books.

What has been your favorite moment thus far in your playing career here at Detroit?
I have a lot as far as the games, like when Bridg (Mulroy) hit the game-winning shot, or when I hit the shot recently. Overall, it's spending time bonding with my team like when we play the card game, Mafia.

What goals did you set for yourself at the beginning of this season?
My goals were to be more aggressive, to be more of a team leader and to be more vocal than I was last year. Also, to hopefully improve my game overall.

Is there any specific opponent you were looking forward to playing this year?
I was really looking forward to playing Green Bay and we still have another shot and hopefully we come ready to play next time. I mean, it was dead even a couple of times, but then they ended up going on their scoring run.

What are you majoring in?
My major right now is psychology, but I think I may change it to criminal justice or add a minor in criminal justice.

What is one thing that people don't know about you?
I speak Japanese a little bit; I know how to write it a little. When I went to Farmington, I had to take a language, so my dad suggested I take Japanese because it was different and it ended up being kind of fun.

I went to Rochester then transferred to Farmington and then the second half of the semester I went to Redford, but my mom didn't want me to play basketball at Redford, so I went back to Rochester. That was my sophomore year.

If there was a movie made about you, what actress would you want to play you?
I would have to say Sanaa Lathan.

Is there any significance to #14?
Deana Nolan. When I first started playing basketball I wore #3 because of Iverson and then I went to #1 because of Tracy McGrady. Then I felt that as a female basketball player that it was more prevalent for me to wear a female's basketball number, which is why I went with Nolan's number and I also wore #14 in high school.

Do you have any pregame superstitions?
After shootaround, I like to chill. I also make sure I shower and I have to sing in the shower. I don't have a specific song that I sing because I basically freestyle my own song. I also have to make sure that my body is super smooth with Vaseline and I also have to have my headphones on before we get to the gym.

What are your thoughts on Coach Rademacher?
To be honest, every gameday I think the most thing that all the players are looking forward to is the last thing she's going to say to get us fired up. I mean, last game she used props. I think she's a comedian, but in a good way. She gives us good motivational talks to get us amped up. I think she's probably the funniest coach in the NCAA and the coolest because if we make jokes, she's right along with us, which makes it funnier.

What does it mean to you to be a Titan?
I think it means a lot as far as like being able to be around girls that I'm close with and am able to bond with. I get along with everyone and I think it's real important for everybody be close. I think we're closer now because we say we're family and now we're starting to act like a family.