RADFORD, Va. – Radford women’s basketball head coach Tajama Ngongba announced that junior college forward Jewell Kinlaw (Madison, Ala.) and former George Washington guard Erica Rivera (Elizabeth City, N.C) have transferred into the Radford women’s hoops program.
Kinlaw joins the Highlanders and will compete immediately for the 2009-10 campaign, while Rivera will be eligible in 2010-11 after fulfilling the NCAA’s transfer rule on completing one full academic year of residence. Each player will have two years of eligibility remaining.
Jewell Kinlaw
6-1 Forward
Madison, Ala./Northwest-Shoals CC (Bob Jones HS)
Ngongba on Kinlaw “Jewell is another quality addition to our inside game. She is a wonderful person and we are excited to have her at Radford.”
Over two seasons at Northwest Shoals, averaged 9.9 points and 6.9 rebounds with 67 blocks in 61 games. Sophomore Year (2008-09): Played in 28 games and was second on the team, averaging 11.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game… Shot 53 percent from the field and led the Patriots, averaging 1.4 blocks per contest… Recorded a pair of 30-plus point games against Columbia State (32 pts) and Dyersburg State (30 pts)… Pulled down a career-best 19 rebounds vs. Lawson State and finished the season with eight double-figure rebounding contests. Freshman Year (2007-08): Averaged 8.1 points and 6.3 boards per contest… Tallied a 16-point, 16-rebound double-double, both season highs, vs. Gadsden State… Shot 48.3 percent from the floor and registered three double-doubles.
Erica Rivera
5-8 Guard
Elizabeth City, N.C./George Washington (Pasquotank County HS)
Ngongba on Rivera “Erica is a quality point guard. She has tremendous talent and the ability to take over a game. With a WNIT and Sweet 16 on her basketball resume, we have high expectations for her. Erica is a wonderful person and a solid student. She will be a great addition to our basketball family.”
Played in 62 games, making seven starts in two seasons at George Washington. Sophomore Year (2008-09): Saw action in 31 games, making six starts… Dropped in a career-high 13 points vs. Duquesne (1/24/09) and at then No. 3/3 Texas A&M (1/3/09)… Hit game-winning free throws with 11 seconds left vs. Troy (12/16/08)… Averaged 4.1 points and 2.0 assists in 17.6 minutes per game. Freshman Year (2007-08): Played in 32 games, including start at Massachusetts (2/13/08)... Averaged 1.4 points in 9.8 minutes per game... Scored season-high seven points on 3-of-3 shooting in nine minutes against Brown (1/6/08)... Career-best four steals in victory at Villanova (12/8/07)... Team’s Newcomer of the Year.
Kinlaw and Rivera will join Da’Naria Erwin Spencer (Charlotte, N.C./East Mecklenburg), Victoria Hamilton (St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands/Antilles School), Sarah Tabb (Chesapeake, Va./Stone Bridge), Katherine Brockett (Geelong, Australia/Kardinia International College), Ashley Buckhannon (Wytheville, Va./George Wythe) and Ema Reskoska (Ohrid, Macedonia/Veritas Christian Academy (Fletcher, N.C.)) as part of Ngongba's first recruiting class.