Denly announces additions to roster

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Bellevue University women's basketball coach Dave Denly announced the addition of eight new student-athletes to the 2018/19 Bruins roster.

The Bruins welcome six freshmen and a pair of transfers into the mix.

#4 Lexi Allen – Guard, 5-8, Luther, Okla. (Luther HS)

A well-rounded high school basketball player, Allen did a little of everything at Luther High School, averaging 10 points, four rebounds, five assists, and five steals while sinking 46 three-pointers her senior year. She was an honorable mention Little All-City choice, OCA All-Star, Little City All-Star, and OGBCA All-Region selection as a senior.

#5 Taeha Pankey – Guard, 5-5, North Las Vegas, Nev. (Legacy HS)

Pankey concluded a standout career at Legacy High School highlighted by a senior year in which she averaged 16.8 points and 3.0 rebounds per game with shooting percentages of 45 (field goal), 49 (three-point), and 72 (free throw). She posted career averages of 14.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game while being named Team MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, and second team all-conference as both a junior and senior. Additionally, she led the Class 4A Sunset Division in scoring as a junior.

#21 Laura Jurek – Forward, 5-10, Bellevue, Neb. (Bellevue West HS)

The first recruit in program history from the city of Bellevue, Jurek joins the Bruins after a record-setting career at Bellevue West High School. Over a distinguished four-year career she averaged 9.6 points and 10.8 rebounds per game and is the school's all-time leader in career rebounds with 834. A two-year captain and two-year all-ITG selection Jurek averaged 9.2 points and 10.3 rebounds per game as a senior en route to earning third team all-Metro honors and being selected to the Senior All-Star Game.

#24 Cassie Jones – Guard, 5-9, Omaha, Neb. (Dakota State University/Marian HS)

One of two transfers in the Bruins' recruiting class, Jones brings a wealth of collegiate experience and familiarity with the North Star Athletic Association from her three seasons spent in Madison, S.D. at Dakota State. In her time with the Lady T's, Jones appeared in 91 career games, scored 428 points (4.7 per game), and shot 78.9 percent from the free throw line. Due to intra-conference transfer rules she will have to sit out the 2018/19 season but will be good to go for 2019/20.

#25 Sierra Roseby – Guard, 5-5, Omaha, Neb. (Midland University/Bryan HS)

The other transfer in BU's recruiting class, Roseby, comes to Bellevue from Midland where she was a member of the Warriors' junior varsity program. She was a four-year letter-winner at Bryan High School where she averaged 10 points, eight assists, and five rebounds per game over her career. She was a two-year team captain for the Bears, earning honorable mention all-Metro and Metro Conference Scholar-Athlete honors as a senior.

#32 Miranda Hennings – Guard, 5-8, Council Bluffs, Iowa (Abraham Lincoln HS)

A two-year team captain at Abraham Lincoln High School, Hennings turned in a strong senior year for the Lynx averaging 10.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game shooting 39.1 percent from the floor and 40.6 percent from three. Hennings averaged 9.1 points and totaled 256 rebounds in her high school career. She was a two-time all-MRC selection, twice an honorable mention all-city choice, and chosen for the KMA All-Star Game as a senior.

#33 Faith Ross – Guard, 5-11, Gretna Neb. (Gretna HS)

Ross comes to Bellevue from Gretna High School where she was a four-year letter-winner at point guard.  Following a senior season in which she averaged 15 points, three rebounds, and four assists per game while shooting 91 percent from the line and 46 percent from deep she was named to both the Omaha and Nebraska All-Star teams. A two-time all-conference selection, Ross holds several Gretna school-records; most free throws made in a game (12), most free throws made in a game without a miss (12), most steals in a game, and most assists in a game.

#44 Stephanie Erland – Center, 6-1, Omaha, Neb. (Millard North HS)

Erland comes to Bellevue from metro-area powerhouse Millard North High School. She played AAU basketball for Bruin assistant James Benford with Retro Hoops, averaging 10 rebounds and 3.5 rebounds on 54.5 percent shooting from the floor. She showed the ability to stretch the floor as a post-player for Retro Hoops by knocking down 1.5 three-pointers per game at a 30 percent clip.

Coach Denly on the 2018/19 Newcomers:

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BU is coming off a 19-13 season in which they posted an 11-5 league mark – good for third in the regular-season standings – and reached the NSAA Tournament semifinals.

The eight newcomers join returners Shayla Dean (Sr., Zearing, Iowa), Shanae Collins (Sr., Sibley, La.), Jamie Winkler (So., Louisville, Neb.), Elexis Martinez (So., Omaha, Neb.), Morgan Cuffe (Sr., Lakeville, Minn.), and Angeliece Tucker (So., Gardner, Kan.).

Bellevue opens the 2018/19 season at the OKWU Classic in Bartlesville, Okla. The Bruins take on Randall on Friday, Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. and Central Christian Bible on Saturday, Oct. 27 at 3 p.m.

Fans will be able to get their first look at this year's team on Monday, Oct. 29 when BU hosts College of St. Mary at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center at 5 p.m.