Penn State Sports Magazine
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W O M E N ' S B A S K E T B A L L P enn State added five players to its roster in June, bringing in two trans- fers and three freshmen, all of whom will be eligible to play during the 2020-21 season. The transfers are 5-foot-7 guard Niya Beverley, who joins the Lady Lions after playing three seasons at Wisconsin, and 6- 2 forward Britnay Gore, who spent the past two seasons at Cleveland State Commu- nity College. In addition, Penn State will welcome freshmen Tova Sabel, Mekkena Boyd and Constance Thomas. The trio of first-year players will join November signees Maddie Burke, Kaci Donovan, Nan Garcia and Leilani Kapinus. "We are thrilled to welcome these five new members to our Penn State family," coach Carolyn Kieger said. "These young ladies will be fantastic additions as peo- ple, students and players." Beverley, a native of Laurel, Md., was a three-year starter for the Badgers, play- ing in 90 games while making 75 starts. Playing just under 30 minutes per game during her time in Madison, she averaged 6.7 points, 3.2 assists and 2.6 rebounds. Last season, she scored a career-high 19 points against Penn State. Kieger described Beverley as a "versatile combo guard who will immediately add leadership and invaluable Big Ten experi- ence to our team. She is an extremely hard worker, a lock-down defender, and flour- ishes in up-tempo play. Her vision and playmaking ability truly separate her. We are thrilled to have Niya join our family." Gore, who is from Antigua, twice was a first-team All-Conference pick at Cleve- land State Community College, averaging 13.5 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game in her two seasons, while shoot- ing 50.4 percent from the field. As a sophomore, she broke the school's sin- gle-season records for rebounds (299) and blocks (55). A former member of An- tigua's U16 national basketball and vol- leyball teams, she will have junior eligi- bility at Penn State. "Britnay brings length, athleticism and versatility," Kieger said. "She has proven to be an elite rebounder and paint protec- tor against high-level competition. She is a consistent finisher around the rim and loves to get out and run the floor. Adding a double-double was a high priority for our staff, and Brit fills this role and more. Her best basketball is ahead of her." Sabel, a 5-10 guard, is from Stockholm and is a four-year member of the Swedish national team. Named MVP of the U19 European League last year, she scored 23 points in the U-19 Swedish championship game while playing as a 17-year-old. "Tova is the complete package," Kieger said. "She can score at all three levels, has exceptional vision, and can stretch the floor with her three-point range. She is a winner, a relentless competitor, and her high-level international experience will help her make an immediate impact." Boyd is a 5-8 guard from Williston, Vt. She helped guide Champlain Valley Union to two state championships, two state runner-up finishes, and an 86-7 overall record during her four-year career, win- ning first-team All-State and All-Metro honors after guiding the team to a 21-0 season as a senior captain. "Mekkena brings an incredible work ethic to our program," Kieger said. "Penn State ties run deep in her family and we are excited for her to represent the jersey with pride. We are excited to have her help raise the level of competition on our team." Thomas, a 5-9 guard from Plant City, Fla., totaled 1,345 points, 300 rebounds, 250 assists, 230 steals and 20 blocks in 81 games at Camp Jewell Academy. She helped guide the team to a district cham- pionship last season and a pair of district runner-up finishes as a sophomore and junior. "Constance is a strong lead guard who excels in the open court," Kieger said. "She is an explosive athlete who can get up and defend 94 feet. Her passing ability will fill an immediate need for our pro- gram, as she has the ability to impact games with her vision. Her work ethic and competitiveness are elite and will add another level of toughness to our team." STAFF ADDITIONS Kieger made two ad- ditions to her staff in July, welcoming Sean Bair and Tyler Dandridge ahead of the 2020-21 season. Bair will serve as di- rector of video and analytics, while Dan- dridge will take on the role of director of recruiting operations and player develop- ment. Bair comes to PSU after a stint as a graduate assistant coach with the Arkansas men's basketball team. He pre- viously served as head boys' basketball coach at New Oxford (Pa.) High from 2013-19. Dandridge spent the past two seasons as the director of women's basketball oper- ations at Norfolk State. ■ Kieger announces five additions to Penn State's 2020-21 roster