Bowling Green State University Athletics
Miller, Falcons Sign Three to National Letters of Intent
November 12, 2008 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 12, 2008
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (BGSUFalcons.com) - Bowling Green State University women's basketball head coach Curt Miller has announced the signing of three student-athletes to National Letters of Intent. Allison Papenfuss (Whitehouse, Ohio), Chrissy Steffen (Carmel, Ind.) and Jessie Tamerlano (North Royalton, Ohio) will join the Falcon program for the 2009-10 academic year.
BGSU Women's BKB Signees Release in PDF Format
"We are extremely excited to add three quality people and quality players in Allison, Chrissy and Jessie," said Miller. "They have the character and the talent that we are always looking for during the recruiting process. They are fantastic students who will add to our championship lockerroom. All three have the chance to make an immediate impact within our program."
Papenfuss, a 6-0 post player, is currently in her senior year at Anthony Wayne High School. She has already set the career scoring record at her high school, with 1,133 points entering her final campaign for the Generals of head coach Justin Zemanski. Additionally, Papenfuss has set the school's single-season scoring (467) and rebounding (313) records. Last year, as a junior, she was named the District 7 Player of the Year after averaging 21.1 points per game. Additionally, Papenfuss was named to the All-District and All-Northern Lakes League first teams for the second year in a row. She was named to the All-NLL Second Team as a freshman, and also was an honorable-mention all-district selection that winter.
Papenfuss is also a volleyball standout, and was named the District Player of the Year in that sport this fall. Papenfuss was just named a Third-Team All-Ohio selection in volleyball. She has played AAU basketball for SMAC (Score More Athletic Club), coached by Tucker Neale.
"We are excited that Allison has officially joined our Falcon family," said Miller. "We have followed her closely since her freshman year, and targeted her as an important piece of our future. Allison is an outstanding power forward. She plays with reckless abandon, and will bring a toughness to our team.
"Offensively, Allison is a post player that is comfortable on the perimeter, but is rugged enough to be successful with her back to the basket. She will be a crowd favorite because of her outstanding work ethic and effort."
 Chrissy Steffen (photo courtesy Indianapolis Star/Rob Goebel)  |
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The Indianapolis Star All-North Player of the Year in 2008, she was also named to the All-MIC team. Steffen surpassed the 1,000-point plateau last season, as a junior. She has played AAU ball for the Indiana Elite of coach Danny Riego.
"Chrissy is a huge get for the Falcon program," said Miller. "She is one of the premier shooters in the entire Midwest, and has put up impressive numbers in both high school and AAU competition.
"Chrissy knows how to win, being a part of a state championship team and also helping her AAU team win over 40 consecutive games this summer. She is an instant-offense type of guard, but her length also allows her to be a disruptive defender."
Tamerlano, a 5-11 wing, is a senior at North Royalton High School. A 2008-09 McDonald's All-America nominee, she has earned All-Ohio honors in each of the last two seasons. She has been a starter for all 66 of her school's varsity games during her tenure, and like the other two BGSU recruits, has surpassed 1,000 career points prior to her senior year, with a total of 1,057. Tamerlano has averaged 16 points per game over her career for coaches Dean Chuppa and Christine Noy.
Tamerlano has been named to the All-Pioneer Conference First Team in each of her first three years, and was the league's MVP in 2006-07. She was rated the third-best wing in the state of Ohio, according to the Ohio Girls Basketball Report. She has played AAU ball for coach Tucker Neale's SMAC team, the same club as Papenfuss. Tamerlano is the younger sister of current BGSU women's soccer standout Jackie Tamerlano. The two played together during Jessie's freshman and sophomore seasons, helping North Royalton to a state semifinal berth in 2006.
"Jessie was the last piece of our outstanding 2009 recruiting class," said Miller. "She is an outstanding athlete who excels in the transition game. Jessie has great length at the wing position and will attack off ball screens within our offense.
"Jessie is widely regarded as one of the top-five guards in Ohio within the Class of 2009. She and Allison teamed up this summer to form a one-two punch for the SMAC travel team."
Papenfuss, Steffen and Tamerlano will join transfers Maggie Hennegan and Tamika Nurse as Falcons in their first playing season in 2009-10. Hennegan, from Saint Louis University, and Nurse, from the University of Oregon, are sitting out the 2008-09 campaign due to NCAA transfer rules.
"My assistant coaches deserve a lot of credit for this outstanding recruiting class," said Miller. "All three recruits have the chance to make an immediate impact within our program. In addition, Tamika and Maggie will become eligible next year for us. Alone, these five would form an outstanding starting lineup, but adding them to our existing team should bring an excitement for years to come in Anderson Arena and the Stroh Center."
The Falcons open the 2008-09 campaign on Friday night (Nov. 14), heading to Philadelphia to take on Temple. After a trip to Valparaiso for a Nov. 19 game, the Brown and Orange will open the home portion of the schedule on Saturday, Nov. 22, against Lipscomb. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at venerable Anderson Arena.
BGSU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SIGNEES
Allison Papenfuss 6-0 F Whitehouse, Ohio (Anthony Wayne) Chrissy Steffen 5-11 G Carmel, Ind. (Carmel) Jessie Tamerlano 5-11 G North Royalton, Ohio (North Royalton)
