May 30, 2000

EASTON, Pa. - In a continuation of the rebuilding process begun last season by head coach Pat Fisher, the team announced today the signing of six promising recruits to add depth to last season's recruiting class.

Heading up the Leopards' class of 2004 is point guard Megan Haughey (Pittstown, N.J./North Hunterdon). An early signee, Haughey may be asked to step in immediately at the point in place of the graduated Sara Harris. Haughey is an all-around athlete, lettering four years in basketball, soccer and softball at North Hunterdon High School. In basketball, she led her team in scoring four straight seasons, was the team MVP her last three seasons, and scored 1,000 points in her career. She grabbed such accolades as being named First-Team All-Conference four consecutive seasons, and was named First-Team All-Area in New Jersey and Pennsylvania her senior season.

Another player that could be an early contributor is Stephanie Dorsey (Stockton, Ga./Stephen F. Austin - El Paso, Tx.). A 5'9" shooting guard, Dorsey averaged 19.3 points and 12.5 rebounds per game at Stephen F. Austin high school in Texas, before moving to Georgia. The daughter of Army parents, Dorsey played at Fall Shape high school in Germany from 1997 to 1998, where she was named First-Team All-Europe both seasons there. According to Fisher, Dorsey "possesses good athletic skills that will make her a contender for the swing player in the rotation."

Lafayette's third early signee is Colleen Fitzpatrick (Springfield, Pa./Academy of Notre Dame). Fitzpatrick is another all-around athlete, lettering four years each in basketball, softball and tennis. Fitzpatrick made a name for herself at the Academy of Notre Dame, finishing her career as the top rebounder in school history and the third leading scorer, ending with over 1000 career points. She also holds the school's single-game scoring record, with 50 points, and the single-game rebounding record, ripping down 20 boards in one contest. A product of the Philadelphia area's prestigious Inter-Academic League, Fitpatrick was named All Inter-Ac in her last two seasons.

Rounding out the guards is Elecia Kruise (Coalport, Pa./Glendale). The 5'8" guard was recruited to play point guard for the Leopads because of her strong ability to penetrate and run the floor. The highest scorer out of all the recruits, Kruise tipped the scales at 22 points and 5.9 rebounds per game in her senior season, when she was named Third-Team All-State for small schools in Pennsylvania. A 1,000-point scorer, she is the second all-time leading scorer in her school's history, as well as being a three-year letterwinner in softball.

Adding international flavor to this year's class is power forward Cynthia Morris (Paynesville, Liberia/Rock International Christian School). The 6'0" post player, originally slated to join the team last season, was held back in her native Liberia. She becomes the first ever student-athlete to come to the United States to play college basketball in her school's history, as well as the first Liberian basketball player at Lafayette. Morris played four seasons of basketball in Liberia, in addition to being captain of the local All-Star kickball team.

Finally, the Leopards add a late signee from Honolulu, Hawaii in Ashley Watamura (Honolulu, Hi./Mid-Pacific Institute). A 5'11" forward, Watamura averaged 17.6 points and led her team with 9.8 rebounds per game last season. Named the team MVP her junior and senior seasons, as well as being the team captain last season, she was placed on the First-Team Interscholastic League of Honolulu. According to coach Fisher, Watamura will add depth and a great deal of speed to the front line for the Leopards.

"These recruits will add a great deal of depth to the team, and are a good follow up to the rebuilding process we started last season with that great recruiting class," said Fisher. "We're looking forward to a lot of young players stepping up and contributing heavily next season."

The 1999-2000 Leopards finished 7-20 and grabbed the fourth seed in the Patriot League Championship Tournament held at Lafayette. They defeated arch-rival Lehigh in the first round, before eventually falling to league champion Holy Cross, the Patriot League's representative in the NCAA tournament.