Owensboro, KY

The Brescia University Women's Basketball program signed eight talented young ladies for the 2012 class.  "This is the most talented group of players we have brought to Brescia University since I have been here." said Coach John Swickrath. "We have a great mix of size, length, speed, and shooting." he added.

The first signee of the year on November 21, 2011 was Mary Decker (Daviess County High School) Mary transferred to Daviess County for her senior season from Breckenridge County.  She is averaged 12.5 points per game, nearly 7 rebounds per game, all while shooting 41% from the floor and 33% from behind the arc.

"We are excited for the addition of Mary. She is an outstanding students first and an outstanding basketball player on the court. We know she will fit right in with our team and be a successful Lady Bearcat for the next four years. What's most impressive about Mary is her ability to step out and make the open three." said Swickrath

The next two signees were on back to back days January 10-11, 2012. Those two young ladies were Alex Washington (Apollo) and Julie Whitfill (Breckenridge County).  

Julie Whitfillis a prolific scorer from the wing and averaged 23 points per game this season. Whitfill can score from long range and she is very accurate from the free-throw line (84%). 

Whitfill was one of the top 10 scorers in the state and made the Kentucky East vs. West All-Star Team and was invited to try out for the KY All-Star team. Whitfill dropped 30 points on Apollo in a 56-47 win this season. Whitfill also scored 27 points in their season's opening loss at Daviess County (52-43). She finished her career as the all-time leading scorer at Breckenridge County High School.

"She is great for us to get, and she is another one who has her best basketball ahead of her. She gets in the lane, she gets to the free-throw line, and she's got a good mid-range game, which a lot of players don't work on anymore." said Swickrath

Alex Washingtonis a diverse athlete that can do just a little bit of everything on the floor

"Alex is the type of player we don't really have with her athleticism."  "She was in open gym with some of our players last summer, and we were surprised with the form on her shot. With some work and some repetition, Alex can be a pretty dynamic player by the time she is a sophomore." said Swickrath

Washington is 5-foot-9 and plays inside for the E-Gals, and averaged 9.2 points and 5.5 rebounds a game.

The next person to sign with the Lady Bearcats was Kaylyn Cecil (Elizabethtown High School).

"We are extremely excited to have KK joining us next season. She is tall, long and athletic being 5-10 and playing the 2 guard.  She can shoot the ball very well from the outside and gets to the rim very well, which results in free throws quite often." said Swickrath

Cecil played on a team that went 26-6 and lost in the Regional Final to Marion County, the team that was the State Runner-up this year. Cecil averaged 13 points and two rebounds per game. She shot 46% from the field, 39% from three, and 83% from the free throw line.  Cecil scored over 1000 points in her career, was named to the All-Region team 3 times, voted to Junior All-Stars, and Area Sophomore of the Year.

"What is more important than all of the stats are that she is a quality young lady off of the court and she fits right in with the rest of her teammates." added Swickrath

One week later there were back to back signings once again in Kelsea Wilson (Grayson County) and Jill Jones (Daviess County) March 21-22, 2012.

Kelsea Wilson, a six foot standout power forward for the Grayson County Lady Cougars was a two year starter. She finished her career with 1586 points and 1177 rebounds. During this past season she helped lead her team to the Regional Finals averaging 17.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. She scored 32 points vs. Owensboro Catholic and Meade Co. Wilson also grabbed career high 21 rebounds her sophomore year vs. Oldham Co. and 19 this past season vs. Hart Co.

Wilson played in the Kentucky East vs. West All-Star game during the State Tournament, and was invited to try out for the KY All-Star team. She was the 2012 Third Region KABC Player of the Year

She has been named All-District, All-Region, All-District Tournament Team, and All-Region Tournament Team multiple times in her career.

"We are not only getting a really good basketball player, we are getting a young lady that has great character. Kelsea is multi-talented from the stand point she can beat and bang inside, but can also step out and knock down the three." said Swickrath

The next day Coach Swickrath signed Jill Jones a 5'7" point guard from Daviess County High School was 2nd team all 3rd region this year, all 9th district tournament team, and all-tournament team at Bullitt East Holiday Tournament.

Jones averaged 16 points, 2 assists, and 2 steals per game this year. She did this all while shooting 48% from the floor, 33% from three, and 72% from the free throw line.  "We are extremely excited to have Jill joining this great recruiting class. Jill has a great ability to get to the rim and finish with contact along with shooting from the outside." said Swickrath

Jill had career highs in points 25 and steals 7 vs. Hancock County this year. She had career high 7 rebounds vs. Hopkinsville and 5 assists in multiple games.

The following week March 27, 2012 Coach Swickrath traveled to Hart County to sign Lexee Wilson.

Wilson, a point guard that averaged 16 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game her senior season for the Lady Raiders.  Wilson made 42 three-point shots her senior year, while shooting 44% from the field, and 73% from the charity stripe.

Wilson ended her career ranked 5th all-time at Hart County with 1744 points.  She was All-District and All--District Tournament team for the last three seasons.  She was a member of the All-Region team 2010-2011, and a member of the 2011 AAU State Championship team.  Lexee was on the Kentucky Junior All-Stars East vs. West, and named the Bluegrass Cellular Player of the Year 2010.

"We are very excited to get such a quality young lady that is equally talented on and off of the court. Lexee is a true point guard that can get up and down the court in transition and distribute, runs the show in the half court, and to finish it all off can put the ball in the hoop."  said Swickrath

Coach Swickrath finished up his recruiting class on April 11, 2012 by signing Sarah Martin (Daviess County)

In her senior season Martin averaged 13 points and 7 rebounds per game.  She only played in 16 this season, coming off of an ACL tear last summer.  She got stronger as the season went along and scored a season high 25 points in the last game of the season vs. Muhlenberg County High School.

In her career Martin accumulated 1043 points and 729 rebounds.  She was named to the All-District team twice and the All-Region team once.  She was named to the Holiday Classic All-Tournament team twice and she was Honorable-Mention All-Academic team four times.  She led her AAU team to a Kentucky State Championship, and also 8th and 11th place finishes at Nationals.

"Sarah is an amazing get for us. She is a great post player that was really starting to develop some guard skills before her injury.  She worked hard to come back and we know her best ball is ahead of her." Said Swickrath