WMU women’s basketball all in the family with Giden sisters

By Mitch Barnett
Western Herald

For some families, getting along with your sibling might be a little hard, but not for sophomore women’s basketball players Miame and Robin Giden. They came to Western Michigan University in 2008 from Proviso East High School in Maywood, Ill. looking for a chance to play together.

Sophmore forward Miame Giden averaged 12.4 points per game last season, which led the team. Chyn Wey Lee / Western Herald

This dynamic duo has been playing basketball together since the seventh grade when they played Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball.

“I really started playing in sixth grade, [Robin] in seventh,” Miame said. “We played on four different teams together before college and now five.”

Once the sisters began to play AAU together, they started receiving letters from different colleges around the country. They were recruited by Western Kentucky University, Illinois State University, Northern Illinois University, St. Louis College and WMU.

“There were a lot of visits [to different schools] and we kept in contact with them,” Miame said. “We signed early in our junior year [of high school] because we liked Western Michigan and it was one of the only places Robin and I could be on the same team.”

Sophomore forward Robin Giden drives the lane against Kalamazoo College last Sunday. Chyn Wey Lee / Western Herald

The twins weren’t recruited by the current coach Tasha McDowell but by the former head coach, Ron Stewart.
“Even though we came in and there was a new coach, we saw how close knit the team was, and to me, that’s really important,” Robin said.

The two have been with each other their whole lives. They shared a room together when the lived at home, they roomed together in the dorms, and currently have an apartment together.

“Living together is great,” Robin said. “We take turns washing dishes and doing other stuff around the house. I love it.”

The two aren’t just sisters though. They are also teammates and they know each other’s game inside and out.
“Robin is a great post player,” Miame said.

“She opens up a lot for me. I am able to drive to the basket. We are able to play off each other and look for each other on the floor. It’s been this way for years.”

“From playing together I am able to see how much heart Miame has and how much love for the game,” Robin said. “It influences me.”

The sisters are truly a dynamic duo. They do everything together and love playing on the same team. They may be sisters first, but they are also teammates, and they have each other’s backs no matter what.

“I know I have someone there for me and I can go to her and talk to her about anything,” Robin said. “I can’t imagine doing anything without her.”

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Posted by HeraldAdmin on Nov 12 2009. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

Cody Kimball
Web Manager: I'm a Communication Student at WMU, a SCUBA Diver, Boater, Ordained Minister, Notary Public, Web Designer, Film Maker, DJ, and of course a Journalist. Born and raised in Port Huron, MI and a graduate of SC4. http://www.codykimball.com