Brooklyn, N.Y. - Long Island University women's basketball head coach Gail Strielger announced that Shetiarra Pledger will transfer from Labette (Kan.) Community College and join the Blackbirds for the 2010-11 season. Pledger will be a welcome addition to a growing crop of newcomers that already includes recruits Nicole Lentini, Justine Perry, Cleandra Roberts and Desiree Simmons.

 

Pledger is a 5-foot-7 guard from Kansas City, Kan., that attended Washington High School prior to playing at Labette. At Labette, she led the Cardinals to a third-place finish at the NJCAA National Tournament and a Region VI Championship this season. Pledger averaged 5.3 points and 4.4 rebounds during her sophomore season as the Cardinals compiled an impressive 31-3 record.

 

“Shetiarra is going to bring us immediate depth at the guard position,” Striegler said. “She is a great defensive player that can play a multitude of positions and will vie for playing time in the starting lineup right away. Shakey is a very competitive player and has winning experience after leading her team to a top-three national finish at the junior college level. She's going to come in and help us immediately.”

 

Long Island went 22-10, finishing second in the league, during the 2009-10 campaign and advanced to the Northeast Conference championship game.