(Posted June 3, 2010)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Juniata College women's basketball will be bolstered by the arrival of four newcomers who have committed to join the Eagles for their 2010-11 campaign.

Joining Juniata women's hoops next season will be, in alphabetical order, will be Brittany Eisenhuth (Johnstown, Pa./Ferndale Area), Jordan Hileman (Williamsburg, Pa./Williamsburg), Kate McDonald (Pennsylvania Furnace, Pa./State College Area), and Rachel Smith (White Marsh, Md./Perry Hall).

Eisenhuth, a 5-9 guard, earned Pennsylvania AP Second team All-State honors in both her junior and senior seasons, and finished 2009-10 by earning MVP honors for the Central Pa. team in the Altoona Mirror Classic senior all-star game. She tallied 1706 points over her four years at Ferndale, becoming the program's all-time leading scorer.

"Brittany's a scorer and a rebounder, who will create mismatches in our favor at the guard position," said Juniata head coach Danny Young-Uhrich. "She has a knack for driving to the hoop and finishing, and drawing the foul in the process. She had an outstanding career at Ferndale, and I expect her to continue that legacy here at Juniata."

Eisenhuth averaged 20.9 points during her senior season, and finished with 228 rebounds, 75 steals, and 41 assists on her way to earning Ferndale's female athlete of the year award. She was a three-time team captain and West Pac all-conference selection, and also played in the AmeriServ Senior All-Star game.

Hileman, a 5-6 guard, was the Inter County Conference's North Division Most Valuable Player and a two-time First team ICC all-conference honoree. She was team captain during her senior season, and played in the Altoona Mirror Classic senior all-star game. Hileman was named to the Mirror's all-star team in both her junior and senior seasons, and was MVP of the Lady Pirate Boosters Holiday Tournament during her senior campaign.

"Jordan will play shooting guard for us, with some point mixed in," said Young-Uhrich. "She is a tenacious player, both offensively and defensively, and always seems to find a way to score. She will shake things up on our current guard-heavy roster, and her competitiveness will give her that edge."

A 5-10 forward, McDonald led her Lady Little Lions squad to three straight District VI AAAA championships from 2008 to 2010. She averaged 11.8 points last season as State College reached the second round of the PIAA Tournament, after reaching the quarterfinal round in 2009. She was a team captain during her senior season, and finished the season with an appearance in the Altoona Mirror Classic in 2010.

"McDonald is a very athletic small post player who can defend and rebound with the best of them," said Young-Uhrich. "She has a very vertical game - she can not only get up for rebounds, but to intercept passes as well - and has a nice little 10-foot turnaround jumper. Kate will fit in nicely with our style of play, and will work very well off our two centers."

Smith, a 5-9 combo guard/forward, capped her senior season with an appearance in the Baltimore City-County All-Star game, while earning her third straight all-division honor at Perry Hall. She was an all-county honoree as a senior, and was a three-time MVP and team captain. Smith helped lead Perry Hall to the quarterfinals of the Maryland 4A North tournament last season.

"Rachel is a versatile player who can pop the three as well as post up on the block," said Young-Uhrich. "She is a great passer and rebounder, and she has the potential to create a great mismatch at both the guard and forward positions. I can see her developing into a great team leader in a season or two."

Juniata finished its 2009-10 season with a 17-12 record, after earning a third straight berth in the Landmark Conference tournament and making its second consecutive appearance in the ECAC South tournament championship game. The Eagles graduate just one senior off last season's team, and return nine letterwinners and four starters.

Under Young-Uhrich's guidance, the Eagles have posted a 53-33 record over the last three seasons in the Landmark Conference, with one NCAA tournament appearance and two ECAC South tourney berths including an ECAC South championship in 2009.

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Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.