CLEVELAND, Ohio – After a successful collegiate career at Cleveland State, former Viking Lex Eckles has been signed to play professionally for Glanmire BC in Cork, Ireland. Eckles is the second Viking to ink a professional contract over the last three years, and the fourth to do so over the last seven years.
"Basketball has been part of my life ever since I was a little kid, and there is still a lot of basketball left in me," Eckles said. "I'm glad to get the opportunity to continue my basketball career, and I will be forever thankful to Coach P and Cleveland State for what they have provided me over the last four years."
Eckles, who will join Glanmire BC in mid September, leaves Cleveland State after graduating this summer with a degree in communication along with minors in art and marketing.
"I'm very grateful that Lex has been given an opportunity to continue her playing career overseas," head coach Kate Peterson Abiad said. "Lex was a dominate player in her sophomore season with us and we believed she would go on to have a great Horizon League career, unfortunately injuries hampered her opportunities on the court and cut her collegiate career short."
Throughout her career, Eckles was one of Cleveland State's most consistent shooters, finishing her career with a .496 field goal percentage (150-for-320). Included in this was a .498 clip during the 2014-15 season, which led the Vikings and was tops in the Horizon League.
During the same season, Eckles also ranked second in the Horizon League with 49 blocked shots – a mark that ranks seventh on the CSU single-season record list.
"I was hopeful that someone would give her a chance based on the player she was becoming during her college career and ignore the last two seasons where she had limited time on the court," Peterson Abiad said. "I believe Lex will thrive at the next level because her love for the game of basketball is tremendous. Her strength and athleticism will provide Glanmire BC with both a post presence and a perimeter presence. All of us with Cleveland State women's basketball are extremely happy for Lex and wish her the best of luck!"
Eckles played in 57 games during her time at Cleveland State after battling injuries throughout her last two seasons, and averaged 6.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game.
