BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Head women's basketball coach Alex Simmons has announced that a fifth newcomer will join the Runnin' Bulldogs for the 2019-20 season with Charlotte transfer Lyrissa Deans set to make the transition to Gardner-Webb.
 
"Lyrissa brings versatility to our program that I am very excited about," said Simmons. "She has a work ethic that is non-stop, and her feel for the game is impeccable. Lyrissa will bring experience and knowledge to our team because of her time playing at Charlotte and competing against high-level competition in the Conference USA. Her willingness to improve everyday will be infectious on our team and that may be the most exciting aspect of her joining our team."
 
Deans (Waldorf, Md.), a 6-foot-3 post player, played her first two years with the 49ers and appeared in 11 contests as a freshman with a season-high nine minutes of action against Marshall. She scored her first collegiate points in a loss to Western Kentucky and went 2-for-2 in the next contest, a victory over Florida Atlantic. She played 47 minutes and shot 3-for-7 in her first collegiate season.
 
She appeared in eight contests as a sophomore and played 30 minutes, including seven minutes against both Louisiana Tech and UTEP.
 
Deans played high school basketball at Bishop Ireton for head coach Jason Harris where she posted a career-high of 17 points in a January 2017 win over Carroll High. She averaged 15.1 points to go along 6.7 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game as a junior and helped lead Bishop Ireton to a state quarterfinals appearance. She tallied three straight games in double-figures during February of her junior year. As a senior, she was named a team captain and led the Cardinals to a 20-win season, including 11 victories in region play.
 
Coming out of high school, the Class of 2017 prospect was ranked 64^th on the Next Sports Phenom Class of 2017 Top 100 Rankings in the DMV area list. She played travel basketball for the PSPA Rams.
 
Deans becomes the third player over 6-foot to join the Runnin' Bulldogs for the upcoming season, joining Laura Kozo (Markham, Ontario Canada / J. Addison School) and Grace Knutsen (Alpharetta, Ga. / Alpharetta HS). Simmons and staff have also inked guards Lauren Bevis (High Point, N.C. / Homeschooled) and Ki'Ari Cain (Sumpter, S.C. / Sumpter HS).
 
Deans is the daughter of Lynnard and LaDonna Deans and is the youngest of four children. At Gardner-Webb, she plans to major in communications.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs' 2019-20 non-conference schedule will be released at a later date. For the most up-to-date information on the Gardner-Webb women's basketball, visit gwusports.com and follow @GWU_WBK on social media.