W. basketball acquires five players | The Triangle

W. basketball acquires five players

Members of the women’s basketball team huddle together during a 2011-12 contest. This year the team has acquired five new additions to its roster.
The Drexel women’s basketball team was tasked this offseason with replacing four key members, three of whom were starters. Tyler Hale, Marisa Crane, Ayana Lee and Kamile Nacickaite made up a quartet that helped lead the Dragons to four straight winning seasons.

With such big shoes to fill, the coaching staff pulled together to pursue heavy recruiting efforts. The team welcomes five incoming freshmen whom they hope will continue their success through the 2012-13 season.

The group includes five different types of players, including guard Carrie Alexander, point guard Meghan Creighton, wing Rachel Pearson, and forwards Jamila Thompson and Pandora Wilson. Four of the five were three-star prospects. The exception is Thompson, who was recruited from London.

The group will bring winning backgrounds and a strong work ethic to the team. Both Creighton and Pearson are from West Chester, Pa., and attended Archbishop John Carroll High School together. The duo was part of a two-time state-champion team. Thompson was a conference champion the past two seasons. Wilson, a three-time member of her all-conference team, played on a team ranked as high as No. 4 in the Washington metro area last season at The Academy of the Holy Cross.

Drexel’s staff hopes the players will make an easy transition from high school to college.

“They come from winning programs, so we’re hoping to see continued success,” assistant coach Melissa Dunne said.

It’s more than likely they will be accumulating minutes, and considering that they each play a different position, they can each make an impact in different areas.

“We feel really strongly about their ability to make an impact and get on the floor early,” Dunne said. “They each have a strong pedigree, good attitude and good work ethic.”

They will need a strong work ethic to compete at the collegiate level. As Dunne commented, the team’s culture is hard work, so the new players should fit right in. The coaching staff looks for them to be dedicated and to respect the game.

For now, Dunne and the staff look to make sure that the newbies effortlessly make the transition to the college game.

“We’re looking for them to come in and make a smooth transition,” Dunne said.

With everything in place, including talent, pedigree and attitude, this should be a successful class and future four years on the court.

“We think all [of the players] have the ability to stand out this season and in their career,” Dunne said.