Marshall University Athletics
Chadwick Announces Women's Hoops Signees
8/23/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Aug. 23, 2007
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Marshall University head women's basketball coach Royce Chadwick announced today the Thundering Herd's spring/summer signing class, which includes three junior college players, two of which were teammates, and an incoming true freshman.
Casey Baker, a 5-foot-6 guard from Bradenton, Fla., was named an honorable mention All-American by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) while playing at Lincoln Trail (Ill.) C.C. She finished the 2006-07 season ranked fourth nationally in steals per game (5.4), 10th in assists (6.2/game) and 41st in points (16.4/game) while leading the Lady Statesmen in each of those categories.
Baker, who was selected to the All-Great Rivers Athletic Conference team and the NJCAA All-Region 24 team, led Lincoln Trail to its best season in school history last year. The Lady Statesmen set school records in wins (24) and were nationally ranked en route to hosting a Region 24 Tournament game for the first time.
"Casey brings a winning disposition to our program," Chadwick said. "She's a multi-faceted leader that can play several positions and can score from anywhere on the floor."
Baker ranks fifth on the Lincoln Trail all-time scoring list with 779 points in two seasons and holds school records for career and single-season steals and assists. She also recorded the school's first ever quadruple-double.
Sophie Lenard and Nicci Miller will both join the Herd after spending last season together as teammates at Central Arizona C.C. The duo helped lead the Vaqueras to a runner-up finish in the 2007 NJCAA National Championship Tournament.
Lenard is a 5-foot-8 guard whose 6.2 assists per game a year ago ranked 11th in the nation. The Wilmington, Calif., native was second on the team in points (10.5/game), rebounds (5.6/game) and steals (2.6/game). An All-Region 1 selection, Lenard sank 47 percent of her field goal attempts last season and recorded a triple-double in the process.
"Sophie is a scorer playing in a highly competitive junior college program that annually went deep in the national tournament," Chadwick said. "She can play more than one position and I feel she will be a tremendous Conference USA player."
Lenard was also apart of Central Arizona's 2005-06 team that finished third in the NJCAA Tournament.
Miller, a 5-foot-10 guard, netted 8.2 points per game, 3.9 rebounds per game and shot 49 percent from the field at Central Arizona.
"Nicci is a winner," Chadwick said. "She is a versatile athlete that can play inside and out. She is a coach's kid and will bring toughness to the floor."
Miller's 18 3-point field goals last season ranked third on the team.
Tania Walters is a 5-foot point guard from Toronto, Ontario. She was a four-time team captain at Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg, Mass., where she was named MVP of the Exodus Tournament.
"Tania is the quickest player I've ever had in our program," Chadwick said. "She is an outstanding defender who knows how to run a team from the point. I truly believe she will be a superstar before her time here is through."
Chadwick will also have the services of point guard Kizzy Hart, who is now eligible after signing during the 2005-06 season. Hart, a former NJCAA First Team All-American, has one year of eligibility remaining.
"We are looking for major contributions from Kizzy," Chadwick said. "She has an opportunity to really shine this season."
Tynikki Crook, a freshman from Detroit, Mich., signed a National Letter of Intent with the Herd last fall and is one of seven new players on this season's team.
NOTE: The women's basketball practices at the Cam Henderson Center, which begin at 1 p.m., are open to the public.
