wbb 2020 recruiting class

Banker Introduces Full 2020 Women's Basketball Recruiting Class

AMHERST, N.Y. - The Daemen College women's basketball team, defending champions of the East Coast Conference, will welcome five new players to the roster for the 2020-21 season. Head coach Jenepher Banker, now entering her fifth season at the helm, formally introduced the program's full 2020 recruiting class today. 

The newcomers include two players - guard Alahna Paige (Irondequoit, N.Y.) and forward Natalie Angeletti (Panama, N.Y.) - whose early commitments were announced last December. Both went on to have spectacular senior seasons with Paige earning All-State first team honors within Class A, as well as All-Greater Rochester Co-Player of the Year honors; Angeletti was named the New York State Player of the Year from Class D. They are joined by fellow freshman-to-be Kaytlyn Matz (Johnsburg, Ill.) as well as a pair of transfer signees in 6-foot-3 center Mary Foster (Elmira, N.Y.) and demonstrated sharpshooter Harmony Philo (Gloversville, N.Y.). Foster will have two remaining seasons of eligibility after beginning her career at Division I University of New Hampshire. Philo brings three remaining seasons of eligibility after competing for East Coast Conference rival Queens College where she quickly placed herself among the league's top three-point shooters. Philo will redshirt this season in compliance with the ECC's intra-conference transfer policy. 

The Wildcats are coming off the program's best season since transitioning to the NCAA Division II level. They shared the ECC regular season title with a 13-3 mark and went on to capture the conference tournament crown and at automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, although the latter postseason experience was eventually canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Wildcats finished with a 23-5 record and will welcome 13 returning players back to the roster, including a trio of All-ECC honorees in guard Tiara Filbert (Batavia, N.Y.), forward Caroline White (Fairport, N.Y.) and forward Katie Titus (Penfield, N.Y.). Among the 13 returners are five players - guards Alina Estrella (Brooklyn, N.Y.), Carly Frary (Russell, N.Y.) and Maddy Stearns (Clarence, N.Y.) and forwards Molly Williams (Waterville, N.Y.) and Gina Fumerelle (Amherst, N.Y.) - who redshirted as true freshmen last season. 

The start of the 2020-21 season has been delayed until January due to the pandemic. Read on for capsules of the five newcomers announced today. 

We are very excited about our incoming class. It is a balanced class with players at every position. They are all great students and well-rounded people.
Head Coach Jenepher Banker

NATALIE ANGELETTI

PANAMA, N.Y / PANAMA CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

 

  • Five-year letter winner for the Panama Panthers, playing for her dad, Jeffrey Angeletti
  • Led the Panthers to four Section VI Class D championships, including her senior season when the team went 20-2 and was ranked No. 2 in the final state poll
  • Earned New York State Class D Player of the Year honors as a senior when she averaged 16.5 points, 12.7 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game
  • Finished her career as Panama's all-time leading scorer with 1,751 points and also recorded more than 1,000 rebounds
  • Also named to the Class D All-State Team as a freshman (fourth team), sophomore (third team) and junior (second team)
  • Four-time All-Western New York selection and three-time Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Conference Player of the Year
  • Played in three New York State Class D Final Fours, including back-to-back appearances (2016, 2017) in the state championship game
  • Childhood education major
  • Coach Banker Quote: “Natalie, the New York State Class D Player of the Year, is a coach's kid with a high basketball IQ. She can play inside or out for us."

MARY FOSTER

ELMIRA, N.Y. / NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL / UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

  • Appeared in 20 games over two seasons for the UNH Wildcats
  • Her most productive season came as a freshman in 2018-19 when she played in 17 games and averaged 1.4 rebounds and 7.2 minutes
  • Named to the America East Commissioner's Honor Roll in 2019. 
  • Five-year letter winner for the Notre Dame Crusaders and coach Mike D'Aloisio
  • Two-time team MVP
  • Became the fourth female in school history to surpass 1,000 career points
  • Earned Class C All-State honors as a junior (fourth team) and senior (sixth team)
  • Pre-med major
  • Coach Banker Quote: “Mary is a 6-foot-3 transfer from Division I New Hampshire where she earned America East Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll status. Her 6-foot-5 wingspan will provide an inside presence on both offense and defense."

KAYTLYN MATZ

JOHNSBURG, ILL. / CARMEL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

  • Four-year letter winner for the Carmel Catholic Corsairs and coach Ben Berg
  • Led the Corsairs to three regional championships as well as a sweet 16 and elite 8 appearance in Illinois state playoffs
  • Named team MVP, honorable mention all-conference and Lake County All-Area first team as a senior
  • Two-time Leadership Award recipient
  • Physical therapy major
  • Coach Banker Quote: “Kaytlyn is also a long range shooter from Illinois. She has a very high basketball IQ and the ability to play multiple positions."

ALAHNA PAIGE

ROCHESTER, N.Y. / IRONDEQUOIT HIGH SCHOOL

  • Four-year letter winner for the Irondequoit Eagles and coach Scott Smith
  • Four-time All-County first team and Irondequoit team MVP
  • Two-time All-Greater Rochester first team selection
  • Named to the Class A All-State first team and the All-Greater Rochester Co-Player of the Year as a senior when she averaged 28.6 points per game
  • Led the Eagles to a runner-up finish in the Section V Class A tournament in 2020
  • Selected participant for the Ronald McDonald House All-Star Game
  • Scored over 1,000 points in her career, finishing as Irondequoit's all-time leading scorer
  • Mathematics major
  • Coach Banker Quote: “Joining us at point guard is Alahna Paige, All-Greater Rochester Co-Player of the Year and first team All-State selection. Alahna is an electric player who averaged 28 points a game last season."

HARMONY PHILO

GLOVERSVILLE, N.Y. / GLOVERSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL / QUEENS COLLEGE

  • Appeared in all 26 games and made 18 starts in her one season (2019-20) playing for the Queens Knights
  • Led the team and ranked fifth in the ECC with 57 three-point field goals
  • Produced 7.6 points and 2.8 rebounds while playing 30.3 minutes per game 
  • Four-year letter winner for the Gloversville Dragons and coach Molly D'Arcy
  • Section II's all-time leader in three-point field goals with 284
  • Finished her career with 1,837 points
  • Four-time All-Foothills Council first team selection, including as a senior when she was named the league MVP
  • Earned Class A All-State eighth team honors as a senior when she the Section II record for single season three-pointers (83)
  • Set new GHS single season record for points (461) as a sophomore before going on to break the mark as a junior (518) and senior (551)
  • Graphic design major
  • Coach Banker Quote: “Harmony is a sharpshooter who made 57 three-pointers, good for fifth in the conference while playing at Queens College last season."

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