Courtesy of Erin Harvey, Wilmington SID

NEW CASTLE, DE -- Wilmington University Women's Basketball Coach Rob Miller and his staff are pleased to announce their recruiting class for the upcoming 2009-2010 season.

The Wildcats are adding seven new student-athletes to their roster. Joining the program are six transfers and one freshman. The incoming transfers are Shantel Brown (St. John Vianney HS/Lakewood, NJ), Ashley Baker (Woodrow Wilson HS/Willingboro, NJ), Silvia Jankova (Gymnazium A. Slaidkovica, Banska Bysterica, Slovakia), Brittney Robinson (Oakland Mills HS/Columbia, MD), Jamee Bush (Hunterdon Central Regional HS/Whitehouse Station, NJ) and Janae Butler (Arundel HS/Annapolis, MD).

Shantel Brown, a 5'7" guard, comes to the ‘Cats after three years at Seton Hall University in New Jersey. With her playmaking abilities and exceptional ball handling skills, she has a knack of getting to the rim and finishing.  Brown is expected to be a permanent fixture in the starting lineup this season.  During her first year at Seton Hall, she was named Big East Rookie of the Week once, and also was named Seton Hall Female Freshman Athlete of the Year.

Silvia Jankova, a 5'9" guard from Drexel University, is a versatile players. She has the ability to play at least four positions on the court.  Jankova is a strong ball handler and has the athleticism and necessary work ethics that should make her quite successful at this level.

Ashley Baker, a 5'6" guard from Camden Community College, is a two-time NJCAA Division lll All-American. She is tenacious defender and scorer and has excellent ball handling skills. Last season she was ranked second in NJCAA Division III in steals, sixth in scoring, and was selected to the NJCAA Div. lll National Championship All-Tournament Team. Baker is expected to see valuable time this season.

Brittney Robinson, a 5'11" forward from the University of Bridgeport, has the potential to be an offensive threat this season. She has a consistent mid-range jump shot and can finish around the basket. Like Baker, she is expected to challenge for valuable minutes this season.

Janae Butler, a 6'0"forward from Anne Arundel Community College, was once a NJCAA Division lll First Team All-American selection. She has the ability to be a solid rebounder and shot blocker in the CACC. Once Butler gets used to the physicality of the conference, she is expected to challenge for minutes this season.

Rounding out the transfer class is Jamee Bush, a 5'6" shooting guard from Georgian Court University. Her three-point scoring prowess is expected to cause problems for the opposing defense, as it should allow the ‘Cats to spread the court.

Wilmington is also adding one freshman in Amanda Walters (Eastern Tech HS/Baltimore, MD). Walters joins the Wilmington program after being a three-sport athlete at Eastern Technical High School in Baltimore, Maryland. She has a solid mid-range jump shot and consistently looks to rebound the ball at both ends of the court. Walters, who will also be playing soccer at Wilmington, has the potential to help the team this season..

"We are ecstatic to have these seven players join us and look forward to their arrival", stated Coach Miller. He added, "They will complement our returning players perfectly, and give the squad the deepest team we've ever had. Each should challenge for significant playing time, and it will make for some very competitive basketball here at Wilmington. We finally have the combination of talent and experience that we hope will take us to the NCAA Tournament."

These new recruits join eight returning student-athletes on a Wildcat squad that finished the 2009 season with an overall record of 18-12 (11-7 in the CACC) and eventually lost to Philadelphia University in the CACC Championship game.

Wilmington University is an NCAA Division II institution located in New Castle, Delaware, that competes in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference. The Conference is comprised of 14 schools throughout Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and Connecticut.