Published: July 28, 2008 12:20 pm      

East Central announces recent signings

Ada — WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

East Central University women’s head basketball coach Kent Franz has announced the signing of three student-athletes – a freshman and a pair of transfers – for the 2008-09 season.

Kelcie Nunley, a 6-0 freshman post out of Elgin High School, has inked with the Lady Tigers and will be joined by transfers Danielle Cox and Keishell Paul.

“Kelcie is a true post. She plays well on the block and with her back to the basket,” said ECU assistant coach Jeff McGaha. “Kelcie has good size and will also be good on the defensive end as well.”

Nunley was a member of the Oklahoma Girls Basketball Coaches Association All-State Team.

Cox, a 6-1 junior out of Choctaw, transfers in from Oklahoma Christian University where she averaged 5.7 points and 3.5 rebounds for the Lady Eagles last season. She was second on the team in blocked shots with 12 and was a 40 percent field-goal shooter. She played in 29 of OC’s 31 games and started three in 2007-08.

“Danielle will help us immediately. She can play inside and out,” McGaha said. “We are looking for her to help get the ball in the basket.”

Paul, a senior out of New Orleans, La.; played two seasons at Connors State College before transferring to Columbia College (Mo.), where she played last season. She averaged 11.7 points per game while shooting 39 percent from the floor and 75 percent from the free-throw line. She also had one 26-point effort in 2007-08 for Columbia’s Cougars.

“Keishell has the ability to be a really strong player for us,” said McGaha.

Also joining the ECU squad will be walk-on Jordan Thompson, out of Meeker High School.

“We are excited about all of these ladies joining our program!” McGaha said.

WOMEN'S GOLF

ADA — East Central University women’s golf coach Danny Key has made four additions to his second-year golf program for 2008-09.

Joining the team are a pair of freshman golfers each from the states of Oklahoma – Kelsey Hazlewood and Tess Bullard – and Texas – Emily Wharton and Christina Moore.

“I expect all four of these girls to contribute considerably to the team. We have five returning sophomores who have been working hard this summer and have been improving their game. These four newcomers have shown a competitive nature in that they’ll be able to compete for our top five spots.”

Hazlewood, out of Atoka High School, placed third at state three times during her career, including this past spring, and fourth once as a junior. Her most recent Class 3A state outing was a two-round score of 156 for a 78 average.

Bullard, from Marlow, had an 88 average score this past season while finishing 12th in the Class 3A state tourney. She’s a Presidential Scholar and will also be a member of ECU’s pom squad.

Wharton, out of Martin’s Mill High School near Canton, Texas, placed third at state this spring by posting two-round scores of 82 and 72 as she led her team to a 76-stroke victory for a Class A state championship.

Moore has been the No. 1 player for Frisco Centennial High School (Texas) the past two years as she has posted an average score in the mid 80s.

That foursome joins returning sophomores Whitney McDaniel, Madalyn Bryant, Maygan Ballard, Amanda Buell and Sarah Wolf.