University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Women's Basketball Adds Five to 2017-18 Roster
11/9/2016 11:27:00 AM | Women's Basketball
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – University of Northern Iowa women's basketball head coach Tanya Warren announced the signing of five newcomers to the 2017-18 roster, adding valuable depth to the Panther family.
Nicole Kroeger, Bre Gunnels, Marissa Robson, Karli Rucker and Riley Wheatcraft will all head to Cedar Falls next season to begin their collegiate career at UNI. Rucker is UNI's only signee from the state of Iowa with the other four coming from Missouri, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
"This is a great day for our women's basketball program," Warren said. "We are so excited about the dynamics that each one of these young ladies will bring to our basketball team. The versatility of this class is exactly what we were looking to add to the mix of our young roster."
"Each one of them has accomplished great things in their high school careers and we expect them to come in and help us continue to build champions for life both on and off the court."
Kroeger, a 5-10 native of Palmyra, Mo., is heading into her senior season at Palmyra High. She earned all-state last season on the way to also being named the Clarence Cannon Conference Girls Player of the Year.
Gunnels comes to UNI out of Kansas City, Mo., finishing up her high school career at Southeast High School. The 6-1 forward is a two-time conference MVP and was awarded the Scholar-Athlete award as a freshman.
Robson, a 6-1 forward from Stoughton, Wis., is wrapping up her senior year at Stoughton High School. She is ranked #7 in the state by Wissports.net heading into her senior season after earning first-team all-conference two years in a row.
Rucker plays high school at North Scott in Eldridge, Iowa. The 5-6 guard was all-state, all-conference, all-metro and all-district her junior year while also being named a Quad City Times Athlete of the Year finalist.
Rounding out UNI's newcomer class is Riley Wheatcraft, a 5-11 forward/guard out of Prior Lake, Minn. As a junior at Prior Lake High School, Wheatcraft was all-conference and named one of the Super 100 Seniors by 2016 Breakdown Sports USA.
2017-18 UNI Signees
Bre Gunnels, 6-1, Kansas City, Mo. (Southeast High School)
Lettering in basketball at Southeast High School … is a two-time Conference MVP … earned first-team all-conference honors three consecutive seasons … three-time all-district selection … was given the Scholar-Athlete Award as a freshman … earned Player of the Year in conference play as a junior.
Nicole Kroeger, 5-10, Palmyra, Mo. (Palmyra High School)
Playing basketball at Palmyra High School … named Clarence Cannon Conference Girls Player of the Year as a junior and sophomore … two-time MBCA all-state selection … two-time MBCA all-district … two-time conference first-team honors, also earning honorable mention as a freshman … has been named to the Hannibal Courier-Post all-area first-team three seasons in a row … also earned Quincy Herald Whig all-area recognition as a freshman, sophomore and junior … was named to the Highland Tournament all-tournament team the last two seasons … reached the 1,000-career point mark as a junior … also lettering in golf and lettered in softball as a sophomore … is a part of the National Honor Society and earned academic all-state for softball her sophomore season … part of the Society for Academic Achievement, earning her academic letter … ranks No. 14 in her class heading into her senior season.
Marissa Robson, 6-1, Oregon, Wis. (Stoughton High School)
Averaged 11.0 points and eight rebounds per game as a junior … two-time all-conference first-team selection … earned WBCA all-state honorable mention in 2016 … helped her team to a 25-3 record and state championship game appearance in 2016 … earned all-area in 2015 … averaged 11.1 points and 8.4 rebounds as a sophomore, shooting 54-percent from the field … was averaging 1.4 blocked shots per game in 2015 … was named Most Improved Player as a freshman while leading the team in free throw percentage … also led her team in blocks as a freshman … led her team to a eighth grade state championship, earning all-state for the eighth grade team … also is a conference winner in tennis her sophomore season … won sectionals as a senior, second in conference and a state qualifier in doubles.
Karli Rucker, 5-6, Eldridge, Iowa (North Scott High School)
Was a finalist for Quad City Times Athlete of the Year as a junior … three-time all-conference selection … named to the IGCA all-district first-team as a freshman and junior … named to the all-metro team as a sophomore and junior … is a two-time IBCA all-region team member … earned class 4A all-state her junior season … selected to the INCA all-state second-team last season … also named to the IGCA all-state second-team her junior year … also lettering in soccer … lead her team to three consecutive state tournament appearances, including a state championship her freshman year … named all-district and all-state as a junior.
Riley Wheatcraft, 5-11, Prior Lake, Minn. (Prior Lake High School)
Holds the single-season three-point shooting record with 63 made her junior year … is a two-time all-conference selection … ranked No. 2 in career threes made and No. 10 in career points heading into her senior season … earned player of the week honors in January of 2016 … set a school record for single-season points with 406 as a junior … was named to the 2016 Breakdown Sports USA Super 100 Seniors List … was named to the all-tournament team in 2014 at the St. Olaf Invite … voted team captain … plays for the Minnesota Fury in AAU … helped her AAU team to two state championships in Minnesota … was the three-point champion at the Nickle Dickle Invite Shooting Contest in 2016 and was an all-state selection at the 2016 Minnesota AAU State Tournament by Northstar Girls Hoops.
