Feb. 25, 2011
EASTON, Pa. - Head Coach Dianne Nolan has announced five new additions to the Lafayette women's basketball team. The class of 2015 boasts numerous individual and team achievements on the court in their scholastic careers as well as exemplary performance in their classrooms and communities. The quintet of student-athletes will join a roster of nine returning Leopards beginning in the 2011-12 season.
"The incoming class of 2015 introduces further talent and depth to every aspect of our game," said Nolan. "In addition to their individual accomplishments, all five of them have played for winning programs at the high school level. I look forward to integrating these student-athletes into our solid core of returning players."
A 5-4 guard from Pasadena, Md., Brya Freeland is ranked among the top 100 point guards in the nation by ESPN. She led the Archbishop Spalding High School to a No. 4 ranking in the state as a junior, averaging 7.0 points, 3.0 steals and 4.0 assists per outing for the Cavaliers. Freeland, a two-year captain, also earned all-tournament team laurels at the Holy Cross Holiday Christmas Tournament and the Title IX Invitational. She is a member of the National Honor Society and the National Society of High School Scholars. Also a National Merit Scholar candidate, Freeland is a peer mentor and president of Archbishop Spalding's Black Awareness Club.
"Brya will enhance our up-tempo style on both ends of the floor," Nolan said. "She is a tenacious defender and a scorer at the rim and from the perimeter."
Emily Homan, a 6-3 forward from Upper Darby, Pa., earned First Team All-State and All-Delaware County honors after averaging 14.5 points per game as a junior at Delaware County Christian. She was also named the Bicentennial League Player of the Year as her team went on to win league and district championships. Homan, who also earned All-Delaware County laurels in her freshman and sophomore campaigns, became the Knights' all-time leading scorer earlier this season. She averages 16 points, 14 rebounds and seven blocks per outing thus far in her senior season. A member of National Honor Society, Homan is a volunteer at the Philadelphia Rescue Mission as well as the Trinity Christian Reformed Church.
"Emily is an athletic post player who will fit in very well with our style of play. She will be integral to our system as a scorer and rebounder," said Nolan.
Linnel Macklin, a 5-9 guard from Bowie, Md., is a three-year letterwinner at Bowie High School. She has earned All-Prince George's County 4A League honors with averages of 20 points, six rebounds, 3.4 assists and three steals per contest. Macklin, the vice president of Bowie's National Honor Society, is a Maryland Distinguished Scholar and has been honored for excellence in both mathematics and chemistry.
"We will benefit from Linnel's versatility on the offensive end," Nolan said. "She can get to the rim and can also knock down looks from three-point range."
5-11 forward Kristi Lianza is 2010 graduate of Cedar Park High School in Cedar Park, Texas. Lianza, a three-year varsity letterwinner, led her team to the postseason in three straight seasons. She was named first team all-district in both her sophomore and juniors campaigns and, despite being limited to 20 games due to injury, was selected to the Central Texas All-Star Team as a senior. Academically, Lianza graduated in the top 10 percent of her class at Cedar Park as an AP Scholar.
"Kristi is a pure shooter, but she can also post up," said Nolan. "I will look to her as a contributor on the boards as well."
Maddie Peabody comes to College Hill from Sacred Heart Academy in Louisville, Ky. Also an all-state goalkeeper in soccer, Peabody has been a starter on three district championship teams. She earned all-region laurels in her junior campaign and has landed on several all-tournament team throughout her career. To date, Peabody has averaged 7.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.6 steals in her 110-game varsity career. She is a four-year member of student government, serving as Student Council President as a senior. A four-year academic all-state honoree in both basketball and soccer, Peabody is also active in her community as a volunteer at the Cathedral Soup Kitchen and Episcopal Church Home.
"Maddie has a great basketball IQ. She is excellent at distributing the basketball but can also create her own scoring opportunities," said Nolan.
The 2010-11 edition of the Leopards is back in action on Saturday, Feb. 26 at American in the regular season finale. Lafayette will learn its opponent and destination for next weekend's Patriot League Tournament at the conclusion of Saturday's league slate.
