Women's Basketball Signs Four Standouts For 1999-2000
July 17, 2000 | Women's Basketball
April 13, 1999
SHANTA BOWENS
Louisville high school standout Shanta Bowens has signed a national letter-of-intent to play with the Lady Cards next season, announced co-head coaches Martin Clapp and Sara White.
Bowens is a 6-1 center from Jeffersontown High School. She averaged 17.1 points and 11.8 rebounds for the Lady Chargers this season. She was named all-state honorable mention by the Louisville Courier Journal.
"We are very excited to have a local player to join our roster," said co-head coach Martin Clapp. "Shanta improved tremendously from her junior to senior year. We look for her continued improvement at the University of Louisville. She is a strong athlete that will help us both offensively and defensively as a freshman."
JANELLE ROMNEY
Junior college standout Janelle Romney has signed a national letter-of-intent to play with the Lady Cards next season announced co-head coaches Martin Clapp and Sara White.
Romney is a 6-1 post player from Dixie Junior College in St. George, Utah. She led the team in scoring and rebounding this season, averaging 14.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. She finished ranked in the top ten of the SWAC conference, connecting on 53.1 percent from the field. Romney also led the team in blocked shots, averaging 2.0 per game.
She was named first team All-Scenic West Athletic Conference this season and helped to lead Dixie College to the SWAC Championship. Dixie College finished the season ranked 21st in the nation with an overall record of 23-5.
"We are looking forward to working with Janelle the next two seasons," said co-head coach Martin Clapp. "She will bring leadership and versatility to our program. Janelle has the ability to score from the outside and with her back to the basket. She will also help to improve our defense with her ability to block shots."
FALESHA ROBERTSON
Kentucky high school standout Falesha Robertson has signed a national letter-of-intent to play with the Lady Cards next season announced co-head coaches Martin Clapp and Sara White.
Robertson is a 5-10 guard from Elizabethtown High School. She earned first team all-state honors this season. She averaged 19 points, 10 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals a game for the Lady Panthers.
As a junior Robertson averaged 15.2 points and helped lead E'town to the state title. She was named the MVP of the Sweet 16.
"We are very excited to have Falesha sign with us," said co-head coach Martin Clapp. "We felt that she was one of the best players in the state and a leading candidate for Miss Basketball honors this season.
"She will add athleticism at the wing that we were missing this season. She is a great defensive player and can break an opponent down off the dribble."
TIANA FORD
Missouri high school standout Tiana Ford has signed a national letter-of-intent to play with the Lady Cards next season announced co-head coaches Martin Clapp and Sara White.
Ford is a 6-2 center from Gateway Tech High School in St. Louis, Mo. She averaged 11.8 points and shot 65.7 percent from the field. She averaged 7.2 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 3.0 blocks per game.
She helped to lead her team to the Missouri State Championship her sophomore and senior seasons She earned all-tournament honors her senior year.
"Tiana is a strong, physical presence with athletic abiltiy," said co-head coach Sara White. "She is a ferocious competitor who expereinced great success at the high school level. We believe that her best basketball is ahead of her."
EARLY SIGNEES KATIE SMITH AND CAROL BROWN
Smith, a 5-9 guard from Lawrenceburg, Tenn., was a finalist for Tennessee Miss Basketball honors. She was named to the Associated Press All-State first team her junior and senior seasons. She earned USA Today All-USA honorable mention honors. She was named District Player-of-the Year and was all-district for four consecutive seasons.
Smith finished her career at Lawrence County High School with 1,783 points, 586 rebounds and 463 assists.
Brown, a 6-1 forward from Stone Mountain, Ga. earned all-state honorable mention honors and was named first team all-conference this season.
She averaged 15.8 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.0 blocks this season.
She helped to lead her team to the Georgia 3A Elite Eight and the state championship her sophomore season.
