Bowling Green State University Athletics
BGSU Women's Basketball Program Signs Five
November 17, 2004 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 17, 2004
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BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Bowling Green State University women's basketball head coach Curt Miller has announced the signing of five student-athletes to National Letters of Intent. Lindsey Goldsberry (Dayton, Ohio), Morgan Groover (Elwood, Ind.), Jasmine McCall (Detroit, Mich.), Jessica McKenzie (Zanesville, Ohio) and DePrice Taylor (Harper Woods, Mich.) will join the Falcons for the 2005-06 academic year.
"We are ecstatic about this class, because all five of these players will have the opportunity to contribute from day one," said Miller. "We had three main goals with this class. We wanted to improve our overall athleticism, we wanted to improve our depth and we wanted to sign competitive players that want to win championships.
"I feel we have accomplished our goals and done it with not only outstanding players but outstanding students."
Goldsberry, a 5-9 guard, is a senior at Dayton's Chaminade-Julienne High School. She averaged eight points per game last year, and led the team with four assists and three steals per contest as the Eagles lost in the Ohio Division I championship game after winning the state title the previous year. The team was ranked second nationally in 2003-04. Goldsberry plays AAU ball for the Dayton Hoopstars.
"Lindsey is a tremendous winner," said Miller. "She knows what it takes to win, and has won a state championship as well as multiple AAU national championships. Her father (Frank) was her coach for a long time, so she gives you a lot of the things you would expect from a coach's daughter. She is a very intelligent player who plays hard on every possession at both ends of the floor. Lindsey is an outstanding shooter who will compete for playing time on the wing."
Groover, a 6-0 forward, is in her senior year at Elwood H.S., and is ranked among the state's top 25 seniors and the top eight senior post players by Indiana's Regional Roundball Review. She has scored 1,213 career points through her junior year, and is the lone girl in school history with over 1,000 points. Groover needs 193 points to become the school's all-time leading scorer, boy or girl. She earned honorable mention on the Indiana Associated Press All-State team despite missing several games due to injury last year. Groover has played for AAU teams Indiana Finest and Indiana Force.
"Morgan's strength is her ability to play around the basket," said Miller. "She is a tremendous finisher around the hoop. Morgan is a strong kid, who plays bigger than her size and is very physical. She will begin her career as an undersized center, but certainly has the ability to help us at the power forward position. Morgan is a warrior, and is someone who will get under opponents' skin."
 Jasmine McCall (left)  |
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"Jazz is a tremendous athlete," said Miller. "She can really get up and down the floor, and is a slashing point guard that excels in the open floor. We are excited about her ability to attack off the high pick-and-roll offense. She also is a very good ball defender, helping offset the recent graduation of Lindsay Austin and the impending graduation of co-captain Tene Lewis. Jazz plays with emotion and will be an excellent teammate."
McKenzie, a 6-0 forward, is a senior at West Muskingum H.S. She averaged 22.6 points and 12 rebounds per game last year, shooting 67 percent from the field en route to All-Ohio Division III First-Team honors. McKenzie, the Muskingum Valley League Player of the Year last winter after leading the Lady Tornadoes to their first district championship in 10 years, enters her senior season having scored over 1,100 career points. She also plays volleyball, and -- like in basketball -- was an All-MVL and all-district selection in that sport.
"Jessica has an explosive first step for a power forward," said Miller. "She is competitive and very strong, as described by her own bumper sticker `cowgirl tough.' Her shooting percentage has been outstanding in high school and she is arguably the best player in Southern Ohio in the class of 2005. I believe she will make an immediate impact and give us a nice 1-2 punch with Ali Mann at the `four' position. Jessica is the first southpaw recruited by our staff since our arrival in 2001, which gives her an unique advantage in the game."
 Jessica McKenzie (right -- photo courtesy Zanesville Times Recorder) |
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"DePrice has enjoyed an outstanding senior year," said Miller. "She is an excellent combo guard that can score in multiple ways. She will be explosive attacking off the pick-and-roll, but what separates her from many players is her mid-range game. DePrice has a great pull-up jumper. She makes everyone around her better, and is one of the best guards in the midwest.
"A great deal of credit for the successful recruitment of these five student-athletes must go to my staff, Jennifer Roos, Brandi Poole and Kevin Eckert, for their tireless work."
The Falcons, 0-1 on the young season, are next in action Friday (Nov. 19) with a trip to Fort Wayne, Ind., to face IPFW. That game begins at 8:00 p.m. The Brown and Orange then plays at Duquesne on Nov. 27, before opening up the home portion of the schedule on Tuesday, Nov. 30, with a 7:00 p.m. game vs. Youngstown State at Anderson Arena.
BGSU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SIGNEES
Lindsey Goldsberry 5-9 G Dayton, Ohio (Chaminade-Julienne) Morgan Groover 6-0 F Elwood, Ind. (Elwood) Jasmine McCall 5-6 G Detroit, Mich. (Communication & Media Arts) Jessica McKenzie 6-0 F Zanesville, Ohio (West Muskingum) DePrice Taylor 5-7 G Harper Woods, Mich. (Trinity Catholic)
