Lehigh University Athletics
Hottinger's German Journey Bigger than Basketball
10/24/2024 11:01:00 AM | Women's Basketball, Features
When looking at the Lehigh women's basketball record book, you can see a common name: Frannie Hottinger. Hottinger '23 put together one of the most historic seasons in program history in 2022-23 and went on to become Lehigh's first Patriot League Player of the Year since 2011.Â
The Inver Grove Heights, Minn., native became Lehigh's latest professional basketball player after signing a contract this summer with Eisvogel USC Freiburg, a team in Germany. Hottinger, who used her extra year of eligibility at Marquette, was graduating with her MBA, and while she was excited to start her business career, she knew playing basketball overseas was an opportunity of a lifetime.Â
After she was done playing collegiate basketball in March, Hottinger got in contact with an agent who was able to put her in contact with teams in Europe.Â
"I really didn't have a preference for where I went because I knew that anywhere I went would be a new and fun experience," Hottinger said. There were a couple of teams in the mix, but when I heard about Freiburg and the city itself and the location since it's in Central Europe, and that it's a top league in Germany, I was in."Â
Hottinger's season started at the end of September and will run through March or April.Â
"There is a main league, so we are playing in the DBBL, but then we also play for a cup in Germany too, and you win or go home."
Playing professional basketball has been Hottinger's goal for the last five years, but she didn't want to play unless she was still having fun with it. While Hottinger had an illustrious career at Lehigh, it didn't always come easy for her. She averaged 2.1 points as a first-year after seeing limited time and her first two seasons were altered due to COVID-19.Â
Hottinger was a key player during her sophomore campaign, playing in all 16 games with 15 starts. She averaged 14.2 points per game, earned second team All-Patriot League honors and helped lead Lehigh to a Patriot League Championship victory and NCAA Tournament berth.Â
While she still had a productive junior campaign as she averaged 11.0 points per game and 5.6 rebounds per game, her junior season didn't go as expected as Hottinger missed 10 games due to injury.
While most women's basketball players stay on campus for six weeks during the summer to practice and take classes, Hottinger had the opportunity to study in Barcelona following her junior year as she was awarded the Tauck Scholarship, where she interned with GBSB Business School.Â
Despite not being around for summer workouts, Hottinger had a record-breaking senior year, earning Patriot League Player of the Year honors, first team All-Patriot League honors, All ECAC honors and setting the single-season scoring record at Lehigh (630 points).Â
"I'm super thankful for my time in Barcelona, especially now that I'm here in Germany," Hottinger said. "It really helped ease my transition and my comfortability in the beginning. That time away also really helped me realize I didn't have to be in the gym every single day of my life to be a successful basketball player. You need to have that balance."
Hottinger said her time at Lehigh helped her realize that there is so much more to you than basketball.Â
"These experiences like basketball is such a fun thing to do and such a fun way to compete, but it's going to take you to such great places too, and open you up to so many opportunities like I had at Lehigh to be a part of things other than basketball. I can be more than basketball. I understand there is a bigger picture beyond that with traveling, seeing the world and doing new things will help me grow as a person that will help me grow in my career after that."
Hottinger said her advice would be to prioritize experiences in undergrad.Â
"Put yourself outside of your comfort zone because that's all it's going to be when you're here," she said. "It's definitely worth it, and that's when you grow the most."
Â
The Inver Grove Heights, Minn., native became Lehigh's latest professional basketball player after signing a contract this summer with Eisvogel USC Freiburg, a team in Germany. Hottinger, who used her extra year of eligibility at Marquette, was graduating with her MBA, and while she was excited to start her business career, she knew playing basketball overseas was an opportunity of a lifetime.Â
After she was done playing collegiate basketball in March, Hottinger got in contact with an agent who was able to put her in contact with teams in Europe.Â
"I really didn't have a preference for where I went because I knew that anywhere I went would be a new and fun experience," Hottinger said. There were a couple of teams in the mix, but when I heard about Freiburg and the city itself and the location since it's in Central Europe, and that it's a top league in Germany, I was in."Â
Hottinger's season started at the end of September and will run through March or April.Â
"There is a main league, so we are playing in the DBBL, but then we also play for a cup in Germany too, and you win or go home."
Playing professional basketball has been Hottinger's goal for the last five years, but she didn't want to play unless she was still having fun with it. While Hottinger had an illustrious career at Lehigh, it didn't always come easy for her. She averaged 2.1 points as a first-year after seeing limited time and her first two seasons were altered due to COVID-19.Â
Hottinger was a key player during her sophomore campaign, playing in all 16 games with 15 starts. She averaged 14.2 points per game, earned second team All-Patriot League honors and helped lead Lehigh to a Patriot League Championship victory and NCAA Tournament berth.Â
While she still had a productive junior campaign as she averaged 11.0 points per game and 5.6 rebounds per game, her junior season didn't go as expected as Hottinger missed 10 games due to injury.
While most women's basketball players stay on campus for six weeks during the summer to practice and take classes, Hottinger had the opportunity to study in Barcelona following her junior year as she was awarded the Tauck Scholarship, where she interned with GBSB Business School.Â
Despite not being around for summer workouts, Hottinger had a record-breaking senior year, earning Patriot League Player of the Year honors, first team All-Patriot League honors, All ECAC honors and setting the single-season scoring record at Lehigh (630 points).Â
"I'm super thankful for my time in Barcelona, especially now that I'm here in Germany," Hottinger said. "It really helped ease my transition and my comfortability in the beginning. That time away also really helped me realize I didn't have to be in the gym every single day of my life to be a successful basketball player. You need to have that balance."
Hottinger said her time at Lehigh helped her realize that there is so much more to you than basketball.Â
"These experiences like basketball is such a fun thing to do and such a fun way to compete, but it's going to take you to such great places too, and open you up to so many opportunities like I had at Lehigh to be a part of things other than basketball. I can be more than basketball. I understand there is a bigger picture beyond that with traveling, seeing the world and doing new things will help me grow as a person that will help me grow in my career after that."
Hottinger said her advice would be to prioritize experiences in undergrad.Â
"Put yourself outside of your comfort zone because that's all it's going to be when you're here," she said. "It's definitely worth it, and that's when you grow the most."
Â
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