Women's Basketball Adds 11 to 2013-2014 Roster
St. Louis- Head Women's Basketball Coach Matt Wickenhauser has announced that eleven new student-athletes have made commitments to attend Fontbonne University and play basketball for the Griffins. They come from three states- Missouri, Illinois and Oklahoma. "This is one of those recruiting classes that seemed to just fall into place. We've added high quality players at all positions, particularly at point guard which was our biggest need. They've all enjoyed great success at the high school level both athletically and academically, and I am looking forward to helping them achieve even greater success at Fontbonne. This group will be the foundation of our program for years to come."
1) Holly Beckett – 5'9 Forward, Freshman, St. Louis, MO / Ursuline Academy
Holly was the team captain and leading offensive rebounder on one of the top high school teams in the St. Louis area. She played in all 24 games and finished the season averaging 8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. She was on the Honor Roll, member of the National Honor Society, and member of Mu Alpha Theta Math Honors Society. Holly plans to major in Mathematics at Fontbonne.
"Holly is an outstanding student-athlete and a great fit for Fontbonne and our Women's Basketball program. She plays strong and physical which will add some much needed toughness to our team. I think she has a huge upside and will really blossom in our program." Coach Wickenhauser commented.
2) Alaina Bisch – 5'11 Forward, Freshman, Springfield, IL. / Glenwood HS
Alaina broke both the all-time career rebounding and career blocked shot records at Glenwood High School by collecting 724 rebounds and 128 blocks during her four year career. She also averaged 6.7 points per game. Alaina helped lead her team to an Illinois Regional Championship her senior year. Alaina plans to major in Dietetics at Fontbonne.
"I am really pleased to announce that Alaina Bisch has decided to attend Fontbonne and be a part of our Women's Basketball program. She will make a great fit, she is a very talented and unselfish player who is willing to do the dirty work… her rebounding record speaks for itself. She has a chance to be a very special player at our level. I am really excited to have Alaina in our program," commented Coach Wickenhauser.
3) Amber Bruno –5'6 Guard, Freshman, Vandalia, IL / Vandalia HS
Amber finished her career at Vandalia High School as one of the top players in school history. She led her team in scoring with an average of 19.4 points per game. She finished her career second on the all-time scoring list by netting 1,682 points. She also led the team in steals and three point shooting percentage and was named the team's Most Valuable Player. Amber was voted 2nd Team All-Conference in the All-South Central Conference for the fourth year in a row and was named 2nd Team All-Area by the Decatur Herald Review her senior year. Amber plans to major in Accounting and Business at Fontbonne.
"Amber is a great addition to our basketball program. She brings a natural scoring ability at the shooting guard position and has a good understanding of the game. She is an outstanding student-athlete that will have an immediate impact on our program. She will have a great career and I am really excited Amber has chosen Fontbonne," commented Coach Wickenhauser.
4) Chelsy Gibson – 5'7 Guard/Forward, Freshman, St. Louis, MO / Parkway Central HS
Chelsy was team captain and leading scorer her senior year before suffering a knee injury that forced her to miss the latter half of the season. Prior to that, she averaged 10.1 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. And she had season highs of 21 points in one game and 24 rebounds in another. She was named 2nd Team All-Conference in the Suburban South Conference her freshman year. Chelsy plans to major in Sports Management at Fontbonne.
"Chelsy has the will and determination to come back from her injury and I am confident she will do that. When she does, she will provide us with great athleticism and versatility. She is a gifted athlete and a quality person that I am looking forward to having in our program. I think she will really blossom at our level," commented Coach Wickenhauser.
5) Emily Haring – 5'6 Guard, Freshman, Manchester, MO / St. Joseph's Academy
Emily was a two year starter on a perennial powerhouse St. Joseph's Academy team that finished runner-up in the Missouri Class 5 State Championship. She started in all 29 contests her senior year, leading her team in assists (135) and steals (82) while collecting 118 rebounds on the season and scoring 4.3 points per game. She was named 2nd Team All-Conference in the talent-laden MWAA White Conference. Emily plans to be an Education major at Fontbonne.
"Our basketball program took a huge step forward when Emily Haring decided to attend Fontbonne. Emmie was a key contributor on one of the top high school programs in the country at St. Joseph's Academy. She has competed at the highest levels of high school basketball. She brings a wealth of talent and experience at the guard spot, and she is a proven winner. She will be a very special player for us," commented Coach Wickenhauser.
6) Olivia Hollander – 6'0 Center, Freshman, St. Charles, MO / St. Charles HS
Olivia was a standout center for her St. Charles High School team that finished the season with a record of 8-0 in conference play and 22-3 overall. She tallied 11.4 points per game, grabbed 6.2 rebounds per game, and shot 80% from the free throw line and over 35% from the 3 point line. Olivia is a two -time 1st Team All-Conference performer in the GAC Conference (North Division) and was named First Team All-District in Missouri Class 4 her senior year. She was named GAC North Player of the Year by the I.A.A.B.O Basketball Officials. She was an honor roll student all fours years in high school and was a member of the National Honor Society. She is a two-time All-Conference All-Academic designee and was named this year's St. Charles High School Scholar-Athlete of the Year by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Olivia will major in Biology with a Secondary Teaching Certificate and minor in Mathematics.
"I am thrilled that Olivia has chosen Fontbonne to pursue her career as a collegiate student-athlete. Her athletic achievements and academic record speak for themselves. She has all the qualities we look for in a recruit. She is strong presence in the post with excellent hands and shooting range. She will have an immediate impact on our program and a stellar basketball career at Fontbonne," Coach Wickenhauser said.
7) Morgan Montgomery – 5'8 Forward, Freshman, Barnhart, MO / Seckman HS
Morgan attended Seckman High School where she averaged 8.8 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. She started in all 25 contests and was the team's leading offensive rebounder. She was named Honorable Mention All-Conference her senior year in the Suburban South Conference. She was also named to the Seckman Holiday All-Tournament Team. Morgan plans to major in Elementary Education at Fontbonne University.
"We are very pleased to add Morgan to our basketball program. She brings toughness and a scoring touch around the basket. She has a lot of natural ability with a huge upside. She will be a great fit for our basketball program," commented Coach Wickenhauser.
8) DeAmbra Pilkinton – 5'5 Point Guard, Freshman, Fair Grove, MO / Fair Grove HS
DeAmbra was one of the top point guards in Southwest Missouri. During her senior year she placed second on the team in scoring with an average of 15 points per game by netting 449 points on the year. She led her team to the 2013 District Championship in Missouri Class 3. The past two years she was named First Team All-District and Second Team All-Conference in the Mid-Lakes Conference. DeAmbra graduated with honors and was a member of the National Honor Society. She also received the President's Education Award and College Preparatory Certificate. She plans to major in Sports Management at Fontbonne.
"I couldn't be more excited to announce that DeAmbra Pilkinton will become a Griffin. She is a very talented and dedicated student-athlete that epitomizes the qualities we look for in a recruit. She is the complete package at the point guard spot, possessing excellent speed and quickness with the ability to distribute and score, and she is a proven winner. Dee is a tremendous addition to our program who will be a special player at our level," Coach Wickenhauser said.
9) Molly Ray - 5'7 Guard/Forward, Freshman, Manchester, MO / Parkway South HS
Molly was team captain on a talented Parkway South team that finished with a record of 8-0 in conference play, won their District Championship in Class 5, and finished with an overall record of 26-4. She was named Honorable Mention All-Conference in the Suburban West Conference and was the recipient of her team's Patriot Award for outstanding leadership, sportsmanship and team play. Molly plans to major in Elementary Education at Fontbonne.
"Molly is the consummate team player who will do whatever is needed to help her team and is willing to put in the time to improve her skills. She competes at a very high level and is a proven winner and leader. She will be asked to contribute more on the offensive end and she has the skills to do that. She is a very talented athlete whose best days are ahead of her. I'm really excited to have her and I can't wait to start coaching her," commented Coach Wickenhauser.
10) Jordan Wehling – 5'5 Guard, Freshman, Newcastle, OK / Newcastle HS
Jordan led her team in field goal percentage (52%), free throw percentage (80%) and a 2:1 assist/ turnover ratio. She helped Newcastle High School make it to the Oklahoma Regional Championship, where her team was named Consolation Chamption and were able to make it to Area. She was a dual-sport athlete, qualifying for state in Cross-Country her sophomore, junior and senior years, finishing 3rd in state as a sophomore." Jordan was Valedictorian of her class, a National Honor Society President, and an Academic All-Conference designee as a sophomore, junior and senior in the Canadian Valley Conference. She plans to major in Sports Management at Fontbonne.
"I am very pleased that Jordan has decided to attend Fontbonne and play basketball with us. She exemplifies the type of high quality student-athlete we look to recruit for our basketball program, bringing speed, quickness and versatility at the guard position. Jordan has a bright future at Fontbonne," Coach Wickenhauser said.
11) Lauren Willis – 5'2 Point Guard, Freshman, St. Charles, MO / St. Charles HS
Lauren was named Most Valuable Player on her team that finished 8-0 in conference play and 22-3 overall. She led her team in steals (66) while averaging 7.1 points and 2.5 assists per game. One of her most notable achievements this year was making a buzzer beater from half court to force overtime against arch rival St. Charles West High School. Her team went on to win the game. Lauren graduated with high honors, was on the Honor Roll all four years of high school and was a member of the National Honor Society. Lauren will be a Sports Management major at Fontbonne.
"Lauren is an excellent addition to our basketball program. She has a ton of natural ability and competes at a very high level. She has outstanding speed and quickness, excellent court awareness and can score the basketball. She has all the tools necessary to be an outstanding point guard at our level. I am really pleased that Lauren will become a Griffin," commented Coach Wickenhauser.