GOLDEN SUNS BASKETBALL ANNOUNCES THE ADDITION OF
THREE NCAA DIVISION I TRANSFERS FOR 2009-10 SEASON

        RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – Arkansas Tech Golden Suns Basketball Coach Dave Wilbers has announced the addition of three NCAA Division I transfers to his team’s roster for next season.

Two of the three of the Division I transfers are former high school All-State players in the state of Arkansas.

Joining the Golden Suns next season are junior guard and Russellville native Laura Beth Anderson, a transfer from Central Arkansas, junior guard and Marshall native Jenny Vining, a transfer from the University of Oklahoma, and sophomore guard and Fairfield Bay native Katie Horsman, a transfer from Western Illinois University.

“I am excited about these young ladies joining our basketball program here at Arkansas Tech University,” Wilbers said Wednesday. “All three of them have played a lot and been contributors at the Division I level and will make an instant impact on our team.”

These three Division I transfers will join a roster that features seven returners from last season’s 19-9 squad, along with five high school players that signed National Letters of Intent during the early signing period in November.

Anderson joins the Golden Suns after playing the past two seasons at the University of Central Arkansas. While with the Sugar Bears, Anderson averaged 8.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 58 games. In addition, she shot nearly 40 percent from the field and nearly 72 percent from the free throw line. As a freshman in 2007-08, Anderson started 27 of UCA’s 29 games and led the team in scoring (10.9), assists (5.2) and steals (2.3) and was second in rebounding at 5.3 boards per game. In 29 games, she scored in double figures 15 times and had three double-doubles. That same season, she scored a career-high 21 points against Nicholls State and pulled down a career high 14 rebounds against McNeese State and dished out a career high 12 assists against Sam Houston State. Her 150 assists in 2007-08 were the ninth-most in the program’s single-season history and ranked first among Southland Conference freshmen in assists, free throw percentage and steals and was second in scoring and field goal percentage. This past season as a sophomore, Anderson was fifth on the team in scoring with 186 points and played in 29 games and made 15 starts. She shot 37 percent from the field, 64 percent from the free throw line and dished out 47 assists. Prior to signing with UCA, Anderson was a two-time All-State selection at Har-Ber High School in Springdale, Ark., and a three-time 7A-West All-Conference honoree. In addition, she was a McDonald’s All-American and Wendy’s High School Heisman nominee. As a senior at Har-Ber, Anderson, who is the niece of former Wonder Boy All-AIC quarterback (1968) and four-year head coach (1976-79) Leon Anderson, averaged 21.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 4.6 steals and 2.4 blocks, while shooting 55 percent from the field, 39 percent from the 3-point line and 83 percent at the foul line.

Vining joins the Golden Suns after playing the past two years at the University of Oklahoma. While with the Lady Sooners, Vining helped Oklahoma post a 54-14 record, win the 2008-09 Big 12 regular season title and advance the Lady Sooners to its second-ever Division I Women’s Final Four. In her two seasons with OU, Vining was one of the team’s top reserves as she played in 60 games and shot 75 percent from the free throw line. This past season, Vining played in 35 of OU’s 37 games and shot 32 percent from the field and 80 percent from the foul line. She scored a career-high 18 points as a freshman in 2007-08 against Central Arkansas and had four double-figure scoring games this past season, including scoring a season-high 15 points in 26 minutes against Oklahoma State. In that game, she shot 5-for-10 from the 3-point line and over her final 10 games of the season, Vining was 13-for-38 (34 percent) from beyond the 3-point arc. Prior to signing with Oklahoma, Vining was a 3-time All-Region, All-District and All-State performer and helped lead Marshall to the 2007 Class 3-A State Championship, where she was named the MVP of the State Tournament. As a senior, Vining, who was the No. 33 ranked high school player in the nation and a 4-star recruit according to Hoopgurlz, averaged 23.6 points, 4.8 assists, 3.9 steals and 5.1 rebounds for the Bobcats. In addition, she also scored a school record 850 points in her final prep season. From her sophomore to her senior year, Vining, who played in high school with current Golden Sun sophomore guard Andrea Loggins, scored 2,281 points and averaged 23.4 points over her entire high school career. As a junior, she averaged 22.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals and averaged 23.1 points as a sophomore. Along with earning All-State honors in basketball, Vining also earned All-State, All-Region and All-District honors in volleyball and softball. Vining’s grandfather Bill Vining won 520 games as Ouachita Baptist’s men’s basketball coach and the arena at OBU is named in his honor.  

Horsman comes to Tech after playing this past season at Western Illinois University. While with the Westerwinds, an NCAA Division I program that is a member of the Summit League, Horsman was a key member off the bench for Coach Leslie Crane. This past season with WIU, Horsman started four of the 28 games she played in, shot 81 percent from the free throw line and finished the season with five blocks and 14 steals. Posted a career-high 19 points against Illinois State and reached double figures on three occasions. In WIU’s 61-54 loss at Missouri on Nov. 22, Horsman went 3-for-3 from behind the 3-point line. Prior to signing at WIU, Horsman played three years on varsity at West Side High School in Greers Ferry, Ark. In her high school career, she scored over 1,500 points and was named a two-time All-Region and All-Conference selection. As a sophomore, Horsman scored 40 points in a game against Wonderview. In addition to playing basketball at West Side, Horsman also earned four letters as a shortstop in softball and was the Valedictorian of her senior class.    

 -- Tech Athletics --