GWU Women's Basketball Adds Five for 2012-13
November 28, 2011 | Women's Basketball
Boiling Springs, N.C. - Gardner-Webb women's basketball head coach Rick Reeves is proud to announce the additions of Tierney Twing, Savannah Douglass, Olivia Parker, Doreen Richardson and Alicia Quinn to the Runnin' Bulldog family, as all five signed National Letters of Intent to continue both their academic and athletic careers at Gardner-Webb University beginning in the Fall of 2012.
"We are excited about this class and believe that they can make an immediate impact for us and take this program to even higher accomplishments than in the past," commented Coach Reeves.
Twing, a 6-4 center from Verona Area High School in Verona, Wisconsin, is a four-year letterwinner who also played volleyball her freshman season. Last season as a junior, Twing shot 53 percent from the floor and averaged 3.1 rebounds per game. She helped to guide her team to a 16-7 overall record and a state ranking of 36th overall her junior season. Twing, who is ranked 56th overall for her post-position by ESPN HoopGurlz, is a skilled center who can turn and finish over either shoulder and has a nice touch around the basket.
The Wisconsin native, who has suited up for both the Wisconsin Force and the Wisconsin Playground Elite club teams, helped to lead her team to second-place finishes at North Tartan and at the Nike Tournaments in each of the last three years, while also competing at the adidas Cup in both 2010 and 2009.
"Tierney gives us a powerful left-handed post player that we believe will have a great career at GWU and in the Big South Conference," continued Coach Reeves.
Douglass, a 6-0-combo guard and forward from Gatewood High School in Eatonton, Ga., is a four-year letterwinner and multi-sport athlete that has excelled in basketball, softball and track & field over her high school career. The Georgia state record holder in the 300-meter hurdles, the 100-meter hurdles and the high jump, guided her team to a 25-5 overall record last year as a junior in which the Gatewood Gators were state runner-ups and regional champions. The two-time basketball team MVP, who won the Most Improved Award as a sophomore, was a key component of the team that won both the State Championship and the Regional Championship in 2010.
Douglass, who is also a member of the Georgia Pistols Club Team, is also a two-time state champion in the high jump, a state champion in the 200 meters, a team MVP and All-Region selection in softball and helped to guider her 2010-11 track & field team to the State Championship in Georgia.
"Savannah is one of the most athletic players we have ever signed," stated Coach Reeves. "Her versatility and potential is unlimited."
Parker, a 6-1 forward from Providence Day School in Charlotte, N.C., is a four-year letterwinner that has also competed in volleyball and track & field during her high school career. Ranked at 151 nationally in forwards for the 2012 class by ESPN HoopGurlz, has solid hands and feet that is a great rebounder and defender that can finish in transition. Las season as a junior, Parker guided her team to a North Carolina State Championship and a top-25 state ranking, averaging 7.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. As a sophomore, Parker hauled down 8.0 rebounds per game and was dominate on the glass all season long. Parker, who was named as one of the 2012 Players to Watch by the Premier Basketball Report, was the leading scorer for her team as a freshman and earned second-team all-conference honors.
Parker, who is also a member of the FBC club team and played two seasons for the Charlotte Lady Nets club team, is a National Honors Society member.
"Olivia comes from a winning-program and has been very successful on the court," said Coach Reeves. "She is a hard-nose, get it done type of player that we love to recruit."
Richardson, a 5-7 point guard from Salisbury High School in Salisbury, N.C., is a multi-sport athlete that is a two-time All-Regional Runner, a two-time All-Conference selection and a two-time All-County pick in cross country. Ranked as high as No. 39 overall at the point guard position by ESPN HoopGurlz, Richardson is an explosive guard that plays hard on both ends of the floor and can create off the dribble. The 3-star point guard averaged 12 points, 4.5 assists, six steals and three blocks last year as a junior to lead Salisbury HS to its third straight 2A State Championship. Richardson, who was the MVP of the junior varsity team as a freshman, guided her team last year as a junior to a 26-1 overall record, a nationally ranking as high as 88th overall and a No. 1 ranking for the state of North Carolina.
Richardson, who helped her Carolina Elite club team to a division Championship at the Deep South Classic, is a Scholar-Athlete Award winner that has received the Academic Excellence Award in both English 3 and English 2 and the Outstanding Achievement in both Geometry and Algebra 2.
"Doreen is as quick as a hiccup," continued Coach Reeves. "She, like Olivia, also comes from a very successful program that emphasizes defensive play. She is a lock-down guard that reminds us a lot of the twins (Dominique and Monique Hudson) on the defensive end."
Quinn, a 6-2 forward from Phillip O'Berry Academy of Tech in Charlotte, N.C., is a very athletic forward that is a defensive specialist, strong on the defensive glass and can be a very viable offside post player that can play both small forward and power forward spots. Ranked 68th overall at the forward spot for the class of 2012 by ESPN HoopGurlz, Quinn was an all-conference selection last year as a junior that averaged 9.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game to lead her team to a 24-4 overall record on the year. As a sophomore, Quinn averaged 7.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game for the Cardinal.
The 3-star forward, who is also a member of the Charlotte 76ers club team that was the 2008 13U NC Western Regional Champions, finished 13th overall at the 2007 in 12U Nationals, placed third at the 2007 12U NC AAU State, finished fourth at the 2007 12U NC AAU Regionals and advanced to the 2007 Sweet 16 at the 12U AAU Nationals, is on the A/B Honor Roll and is a member of the National Honor Society.
"Alicia is an elusive type of post player that can also play the 3-position much in the way as former GWU player LaTroya Pope," commented Coach Reeves. "Her skills and what she does on the court don't always show up on in the box scores or on the stat sheets."
Gardner-Webb, who just returned home from playing back-to-back games versus No. 6 Duke and Southern California at the 2011 Junkanoo Jam in the Freeport, Bahamas, will host the Wofford College Terriers on Saturday, December 3rd, at 4 p.m. in Paul Porter Arena.
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