February 23, 2008
FARMVILE, Va. - Longwood University first-year women’s basketball head coach Kristin Caruso has announced her five-player recruiting class for the 2008-09 season. Joining the Lancers next season will be Brooke Long/Richmond (Mills Godwin), Morgan Smith/Williamsport, Md. (Williamsport), Kayla Loughner/Brinklow, Md. (Good Counsel), Brittani Billups/Goldsboro, N.C. (Eastern Wayne), and Sierra Fletcher/Utica, Ohio (Utica).
“I am very excited about this fine group of student athletes that will be coming in next year to represent Longwood University and our women's basketball program,” said Caruso. “We will be very young but these kids are coming from highly-competitive and very successful programs. We are excited to have them become a part of our family and to contribute to building a successful mid-Division I program. They are all dedicated to be successful students and athletes at Longwood University.”
Long (5-10, Guard) averaged 14.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 3.0 steals while leading Mills Godwin High School in Richmond to the Virginia State Tournament Qualifier during her junior season. She is currently the fifth leading scorer in the Colonial District, while her team is ranked fifth in the region.
Smith (6-1, Forward) arrives from Williamsport High School where she netted her 1,000th career point this season. While she was at Williamsport, Smith was named to the Maryland All-Area First Team (2007) and the All-County First Team three seasons in a row (2005-07).
Loughner (5-10, Guard) comes to Longwood after a shining career from Good Counsel High School, which is rated the top high school program in the nation. Loughner has even been noticed on an international level, making the Maryland Junior Olympic Team in both 2006 and 2007. During the 2006-07 season, she was named the 10th best three-point shooter at the high school level by The Washington Post. Loughner has ties to Longwood as she was coached by Katie-Smirka Duffy, the wife of men’s basketball assistant coach Tim Fudd.
Billups (6-1, Forward) is averaging 25.4 points, 14.7 rebounds, and 5.7 blocks per game, which leads all high school players in North Carolina. Earlier this season, Billups was honored with National Player of the Week honors, while being named the 2007 News-Argus Area Player of the year.
Fletcher (5-5, Point Guard) is currently averaging 21.0 points, 8.0 assists, and 5.0 rebounds a game, en route to scoring over 1,000 career points at Utica High School. Last season Fletcher was named conference and Ohio section Player of the Year. She is also a member of the All-Ohio Black AAU basketball team that is nationally ranked.
Longwood will lose three seniors next season in Keiva Small/Norfolk (Norview), Rachelle Steward/Richmond (Highland Springs) and Leigh Mascherin/Greensboro, N.C. (Ragsdale). The Lancers are set to return four starters among eight letterwinners from this season’s squad that is currently 14-13.
Longwood looks to wrap up the 2007-08 season, starting with Presbyterian College on Sunday, February 24 at 2 p.m. in Willett Hall. The Lancers will conclude their season on Sunday, March 2 as they take on NJIT at 2 p.m. in Willett Hall on Senior Day.
