The number of newcomers for the 2007-08 IUP women’s basketball team increased to six on Friday when head coach Cindy Martin announced the addition of freshman Eryn Withers and sophomore transfer Laura Canteri.

The duo joins previously signed freshmen Lacey Claar (Claysburg-Kimmel HS), Lauren Kukic (East Allegheny HS), Tiffany Corle (Union HS) and Julie Lozon (Hathaway Brown School in Chagrin Falls, Ohio).

“Overall we have signed six new players, five of whom are freshmen,” Martin said.  “With all that we’ve accomplished in just two short years, we know we are going to have a target on our backs every time we take the court next season. 

“Our coaching staff focused on recruiting young ladies that truly want to win, be good citizens and want to be coached to become the best student-athletes they can be.”

IUP has a record of 43-18 in two seasons under Martin, including a 24-9 slate in 2006-07 when the Crimson Hawks won the PSAC title for the first time since 1988 and advanced to the championship game of the NCAA East Region tournament.

Withers, a guard, comes to IUP from Springbrook High School in Silver Spring, Md.  A two-year starter, she helped lead her team to a record of 63-12 over that span, a pair of regional titles and two appearances in the Maryland 4A State Final Four. 

As a senior, Withers led the team in scoring at 14.2 points per game and also averaged six rebounds and six assists a contest.  She shot 51 percent from the field, 41 percent from 3-point range and 78 percent from the free throw line.

Withers was selected her team’s co-MVP, named All-Montgomery County her senior year and was the MVP of her school’s Christmas Tournament.  She has also starred on AAU teams, helping her squads win more than 140 games over the past three years and earning invitations to several tournament all-star games.

Canteri, a guard who is transferring to IUP from Notre Dame (Ohio) College, is from Mentor, Ohio, and played at Mentor High School.  In her freshman season at Notre Dame, Canteri played in 16 games off the bench and scored 22 points, pulled down 21 rebounds and dished out 15 assists.  She was also a member of the golf team at Notre Dame.

Canteri played four seasons at Mentor High School and averaged 6.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game her senior year.  She was chosen her team’s best defensive player and was named to the Willoughby News Herald second team.  She was on the News Herald honorable mention team as a sophomore and junior and its 3-point champion.

Mentor went undefeated in its league and at home and won district championships all four years that Canteri played.  The team was a two-time regional finalist in 2004 and 2005.

“Our 2007 recruiting class just keeps getting stronger.  We are really looking forward to the depth and athleticism that our newcomers will bring to the table,” Martin said.  “Our two team goals for next season are to be the best defensive team in the country and to become a great 3-point shooting team.  Eryn and Laura will help us in those two categories right away.

“Laura brings college game experience and maturity to our group of talented freshmen.  She can shoot the 3 and always find a way to get to the rim.  Eryn is a tremendous 3-point shooter and a very physical player.  She has already learned how to use her strength to pressure out on the passing lanes, and she will be able to guard very tight on the perimeter.”

Martin challenged the six new players to be in top athletic form and ready to work hard when they arrive at IUP in the fall.

“The next step for our recruits is to focus intensely on their summer workouts so they are in great shape when preseason starts in September,” Martin said.  “Just ask any of our current ladies and they will tell you that the IUP women’s basketball preseason is the toughest challenge you will ever experience.”

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