| COLUMBIA, S.C. – Benedict head women’s basketball coach James Rice has announced the addition of 10 student-athletes for the 2022-23 school year. Joining the two-time reigning SIAC champions are three transfers and seven freshmen. “The staff and I are excited about our women’s basketball 2022 recruiting class,” Rice said. “This is one of the largest recruiting classes we’ve had in a very long time. All of our recruits understand the program’s goals and objectives on and off the court. Our program’s standards have always been set high. With our skillful returnees along with the addition of this year’s talented recruiting class, we all are looking forward to the many challenges and obstacles in our path ahead.” The signees are: Shakera Duncan, a 5-foot-11 guard from Houston, Texas, and Evan E. Worthing Sr High School. She was named 2022 All-District and All-Region after averaging 14.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and three assists. Taia Gattis, a 6-foot-2 forward from Cross High School in Cross, S.C. She was a three-time All-State selection and averaged 16 points, 13 rebounds, three steals, and four blocks during her senior season. Leila Henderson, a 5-foot-9 guard from Newnam, Georgia, and East Coweta High School. She was named to the 2022 Coweta All-County Team and 2022 GHSA All-Region Team. Bre’Asia Lester, a 5-foot-9 guard from Gaston, S.C., and Airport High School. Courtney McClaney, is a 5-foot-10 forward from Cardinal O’Hara High School in Buffalo, New York. She averaged 8.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, and two assists, and was named to the 2022 All-Western New York team. Shatyra Moree, is a 6-foot-3 center sophomore transfer from USC-Salkehatchie and originally from Cross, S.C., and Cross High School. During her senior year at Cross High School, she averaged 15.9 points, 12 rebounds, and four blocks, and was named 2019 All-District and All-Region. Adiyah Owens, a 5-foot-8 point guard from High Point High School in Spartanburg, S.C. She averaged 12.5 points, 7.8 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.7 steals per game in helping High Point to the second round of the S.C. Class A playoffs and was named All-Region and All-State. Nyekuar Quik, is a 6-foot-5 center junior transfer from Hinds Community College and originally from Tacoma, Washington, and Washington High School. She averaged 1.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks last season for Hinds. Jenna Wilbon, is a 6-foot forward from Hephzibah, Georgia, where she played for Cross Creek High School. She averaged 5 points and 6.2 rebounds and helped lead Cross Creek to a pair of state playoff runs. Naomi Winston-Ellis is a 5-foot-11 transfer guard from East Los Angeles College, who averaged 15 points and 7.6 rebounds. She was named South Coast Conference-South All-Conference after her freshman season in 2021-22. She is from Cajon, California, where she played at Gahr High School and averaged 12.3 points, 6 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks as a senior in 2017-18. |