Wayne State College head women's basketball coach Chris Kielsmeier announced today that two transfers will be joining the Wildcat program for the 2010-11 season.  Eva Benson of Overton, Nebraska and Kara Powell of Hot Springs, South Dakota will both transfer to Wayne State and each have two years of eligibility with the Wildcat program.
            Benson, a 6-1 forward, transfers to Wayne State after playing the last two seasons at NCAA Division I Evansville University.  Last season as a sophomore, Benson averaged 4.3 points and 1.6 rebounds per game for the Purple Aces while appearing in all 30 games with six starts.  She shot 39.5 percent from the field and had two double-doubles last season.  As a freshman at Evansville, Benson led her team in field goal shooting (44.8 percent) while playing in 32 games with two starts at center.  In high school at Overton, Benson was a consensus First-Team All-State forward averaging 18 points and 13.5 rebounds per game in her senior season.
            “Eva is a back to the basket player that will play the five position for us,” said Coach Kielsmeier.  “Eva was a great high school player and after having played two years at the NCAA Division I level will bring depth and experience to our program.  She is an outstanding defender and rebounder that can also score in a variety of ways on the offensive end.”
            Powell is a 6-1 forward that played the last two seasons at Division I Mercer University in Macon, Georgia.  She appeared in 25 games in her two seasons at Mercer and received A-Sun All-Academic honors both seasons.  In high school at Hot Springs, South Dakota, Powell was a standout volleyball, basketball, and track athlete earning All-State honors in volleyball and basketball.  She averaged 17 points, eight rebounds and three steals per game as a senior and averaged 18 points, eight rebounds and two steals per game in her junior season.
            “Kara will play the three position for us and will bring great depth at that position to our program,” remarked Kielsmeier.  “Like Eva, Kara was a great high school player and brings two years of Division I experience to our program.  She is a long athletic player that is a perfect fit on the defensive end for us.  Kara can shoot the three and also attack the basket and finish.”
            Benson and Powell join Ellen Hansen of Ames, Iowa, Audrey Holmes of Omaha, Nebraska and Jennifer Kalbfell of Lakeville, Minnesota as members of the 2010-11 WSC recruiting class.  “Our program is extremely excited with the addition of these two talented players.  It completes an absolutely great recruiting class for this year,” said Kielsmeier.
            Wayne State finished the 2009-10 season with a 26-5 record, including the 2010 NSIC Sanford Health Women's Basketball Tournament Championship.  The Wildcats went on to qualify for the NCAA Division II tournament for the third time in the last five seasons.  Wayne State loses just one player to graduation off the 2009-10 team.
            Wayne State College is an NCAA Division II school located in Wayne, Nebraska and competes in the 14 team Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.