University of Northern Iowa Athletics
UNI women’s basketball adds trio of talented guards to upcoming roster
4/16/2025 2:43:00 PM | Women's Basketball
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — The UNI women's basketball team strengthened its roster on Wednesday with the addition of three dynamic guards: junior college transfer Jenna Twedt, NAIA standout Virginia Edmondson, and incoming freshman Lauren Walker.
The trio brings a combination of collegiate experience and high school excellence to Cedar Falls, adding scoring power and defensive depth to the Panthers' 2025 lineup.
"We couldn't be more excited for Virgina, Jenna and Lauren to become a part of our sisterhood," said head coach Tanya Warren. "All three will help us on the perimeter and their strengths fit perfectly to what we are looking for. Virginia brings a wealth of experience at the collegiate level and her size and athleticism will allow her to transition nicely. Jenna is a sniper from long range with the ability to space the floor and comes from a program that only knows winning. Lauren is a perfect compliment to our other freshman we signed in the Fall. She shoots it well and has the uncanny ability to create her own shot. We look forward to spending time and working with them this summer."
Jenna Twedt, a native of Atkins, Iowa, transfers to UNI from Kirkwood Community College after a standout two-year career. The 5-foot-8 guard started all 72 games for the Eagles, averaging 15.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. Twedt was named the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) Tournament MVP as a freshman and earned Conference Player of the Year honors as a sophomore. A two-time First Team All-American, she made 112 three-pointers shooting 40.3% from beyond the arc last season.
Virginia Edmondson arrives at UNI from Montreat College in North Carolina, where she made a major impact over three seasons. The 5-foot-9 guard began her college career at Ottawa University Arizona before transferring to Montreat ahead of her sophomore year. During her time at Montreat, Edmondson appeared in 69 games with 61 starts, averaging 18.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. She had a standout 2024-25 season, posting 20.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per contest, including three 30-point games and four double-doubles. A native of Goldsboro, North Carolina, she was named the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Defensive Player of the Year and earned spots on both the All-AAC First Team and All-Defensive Team.
Lauren Walker joins the Panthers from Central DeWitt High School as the program's all-time leading scorer with 1,636 career points. The 5-foot-8 guard capped off her senior season by averaging 25.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 2.2 steals per game. Walker earned 2024-25 Mississippi Athletic Conference (MAC) Player of the Year honors and was named to the All-MAC First Team. She also landed spots on the Iowa Girls Coaches Association (IGCA) All-District and All-State First Teams, as well as the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association (IPSWA) and Des Moines Register All-State First Teams. Walker shot 55.9% from the field her senior season including 48.1% from deep.