BOONE, N.C.- Appalachian State University women’s basketball added four newcomers for the 2009 squad head coach Darcie Vincent announced Wednesday morning. The highly talented incoming class hails from Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio and South Carolina. 

“We have a great incoming class and are very excited," Vincent said. "We have recruited a championship and winning mentality with each one of our newcomers coming from successful high school programs that have all made it far in their respective state tournament. We feel that these young women will really contribute to our program and help us get to the level of success and achievement where we want to be.”

ASHLEN DEWART (SPARTANBURG, S.C./DORMAN)
Four-year letter-winner in basketball ... earned all-State honors her senior year ... was named a North Carolina- South Carolina all-star ... top-five player in South Carolina ... McDonald’s all-America nominee ... named to the Adidas top-64 players list her sophomore, junior and senior years ... Herald Journal Player of the Year ... three-time Herald Journal Player of the Week ... five-time Dorman athlete of the week ... North Carolina vs. South Carolina all-star game MVP ... named state all-tournament team and all region her junior year ... named best offensive player her junior year ... led team in scoring, rebounding and blocks her junior and senior seasons ... AAU team finished third in the nation in 2008.

“Ashlen is definitely going to be our inside presence, she is a big girl with great hands and we are expecting big things. She was named the South Carolina MVP of the all-star game between North Carolina and South Carolina and she has great knowledge of the game of basketball. She is a great passer and shooter and she should really open up the outside for us by just her presence on the inside.”

ANNA FREEMAN (THOMASVILLE, N.C./EAST DAVIDSON)
Four-year letter-winner in basketball, softball and volleyball ... named all-conference four years and conference player of the year three years ... earned all-State honors in basketball ... North Carolina prep player of the year her junior year ... two-years 2A state championship MVP ... named the High Point Enterprise Player of the Year ... Lexington Dispatch Player of the Year ... Davidson County female athlete of the year. 

“Anna has a championship mentality. She can play small forward for us and she can shoot the ball very well. She sees the floor well and excels at distributing the ball to her teammates. All around Anna is very fundamentally sound.”

COURTNEY FREEMAN (DANIELSVILLE, GA./MADISON COUNTY)
Four-year letter-winner in basketball ... earned all-State honors as a freshman, sophomore and junior ... all-Northeast Georgia her freshman, sophomore and junior seasons ... McDonald’s all-America nominee ... team captain and team MVP ... scored 1,000th career point as a sophomore.

“Courtney is a great all-around student athlete. She has excelled at everything, she is valedictorian of her class, she scored over 2000 points in her career, and she has great character and is a great player. She is going to add a lot of rebounding abilities to the team. She attacks the rim really well and she can put the ball in the basket.”

KELSEY SHARKEY (CINCINNATI, OHIO/SAINT URSULA)
Four -year letter-winner in basketball ... named to the Girls Greater Cincinnati League ... second team as a junior ... all-city honorable mention ... earned the coaches award and was a scholar athlete.

“Kelsey is a great rebounder as well, and will box out everytime. She is a strong passer, can shoot the three and is very mobile. She has a great mind for the game and will be a real asset to the team.”

The Apps will announce their 2009-10 schedule mid to late summer.