CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cleveland State women's basketball head coach Kate Peterson Abiad announced the signing of three players for the 2015-16 season Thursday afternoon, as Sierra Davidson (Avon, Ohio), Nicolete Newman (Pittsburgh, Pa.), and Emily Stoller (Fairmont, West Virginia) have all signed National Letters of Intent to attend Cleveland State University beginning next fall.
All three will enter the 2015-16 season as freshmen, with four years of eligibility remaining.
"This is a defining year for us in terms of signing prospects. My coaching staff, led in recruiting by Bernard Scott, identified a tremendous group of young women who will fill our needs, both academically and athletically," Peterson Abiad said. "This is a diverse group of signees, and each of them has the traits of versatility, skill, and excellent basketball IQ. They will develop into impact players in our program and we are very grateful that they have chosen to be Vikings."
SIERRA DAVIDSON
Davidson, a 6-0 forward from Avon High School, will join the Vikings after earning numerous accolades throughout her high school campaign. As a sophomore and junior, Davidson was named First Team All-Lorain County, First Team All-Conference, and Honorable Mention All-District. As a freshman, she earned Second Team All-Lorain County and Honorable Mention All-Conference honors.
Last season, Davidson averaged 7.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game as a junior, and was also named to the Morning Journal All-Star Team, and a Morning Journal Top Player to Watch.
Off the court, Davidson carries a 4.2 GPA and is a member of the National Honors Society. She serves as the Class President, and has earned High Honor Roll accolades.
"Sierra has everything going for her, she has a college-ready body and her athleticism and agility are very good for her position," Peterson Abiad said. "We are excited about what she brings to the table in terms of her scoring and rebounding around the basket. She is a natural leader who models work ethic and execution and will make everyone around her better."
NICOLETE NEWMAN
Newman, a 5-7 guard from Seton-La Salle High School, will join the Vikings after leading the Rebels to two State Championships and two Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League Championships as a freshman and junior. Last season Newman was named an Almanac News Player to Watch, and an Almanac News Top-10 Player.
She is a three-year starter for the Rebels, and is part of the winningest class in school history – also helping Seton-La Salle to three straight Sectional Championships.
"As we watched Nicolete over the last two summers, what stood out to us immediately was her long-range shooting ability. During our recruitment then, we became very impressed with her level of skill from the prospective of ball handling and point guard abilities. She is a great addition as a combo-guard and will help to keep us strong from long-range," Peterson Abiad said.
EMILY STOLLER
Stoller, a 6-2 guard from Fairmont High School, will join the Vikings after averaging 19.9 points, 7.5 assists, and 6.9 rebounds per game as a junior. She will be a four-year starter for the Polar Bears, and a three-year team captain.
Stoller is a three-time all-conference honoree, and has been named to the All-State Tournament Team twice. Last year as a junior, Stoller was named the Big 10 Player of the Year, and was named one of the Top-5 Players in the state of West Virginia.
Stoller is also an excellent student in the classroom, carrying a 4.1 GPA and participates in the National Honor Society and the Mu Alpha Theta Honor Society.
"Adding Emily to our team is a coup for our program, we call her our 'Larry Bird' signee. On the court, she just finds a way to pick apart her opponents," Peterson Abiad said. "While she is a great scorer, anyone who watches her finds her ability to pass the ball outstanding and entertaining. She is an excellent addition to our motion offense, and her ability to read-and-react will make her difficult to defend."
