May 2008

Kenya Middlebrooks Signs with Women's Basketball
Thursday, May 15 2008
Courtesy of:
Youngstown – The Youngstown State women’s basketball team has signed Kenya Middlebrooks (Toledo, Ohio) to a National Letter of Intent to join the program for the 2008-09 season, Head Coach Cindy Martin announced Thursday.

Middlebrooks, a 5-foot, 8-inch guard from Toledo Waite High School, is the second player in a week to sign with the Penguins.

“Kenya is a very athletic guard that is a true defensive stopper,” Martin said. “She will make an immediate impact in our transition game and our full-court pressure defense. She also has the ability to put the ball on the floor and attack the rim.”

“Kenya is coming from a great high school program where she has already been taught the fundamentals of the game,” Martin added.

A three-year starter and four-year letterwinner, Middlebrooks helped Waite to two conference championships and the school’s first regional appearance in 2007.

Last season, the Division I third-team all-district selection averaged 10 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.

Middlebrooks was impressed by Martin’s commitment to academics and expectations for the program.

“The coaches stressed that grades and success in the classroom will always come first,” Middlebrooks said. “The coaching staff has high expectations for the program and I know they will work very hard every step of the way. I am excited about experiencing college life as a member of the YSU women’s basketball team.”

Middlebrooks also liked YSU’s proximity to her hometown.

“I chose YSU because it wasn’t too far from home, the size was just right and I felt comfortable when I visited campus. The players and coaches were nice and I’m excited about getting to know my teammates better for the upcoming season.”

Middlebrooks joins Macey Nortey (Long Beach, Calif.) and Camisha Alexander (Beckley, W.Va.), who signed during the early signing period, in the 2008-09 recruiting class.
 
 
Women’s Basketball Inks Macey Nortey to National Letter of Intent
Monday, May 12 2008
Courtesy of:
Youngstown – Youngstown State women’s basketball Head Coach Cindy Martin announced on Monday that Macey Nortey (Long Beach, Calif.) has signed a National Letter of Intent to join the Penguins program for the 2008-09 basketball season.

A 5-foot-3 point guard, Nortey was a four-time all-conference selection and averaged 4.4 points, 4.0 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 2.8 steals per game in 2007-08. Nortey also led Millikan High School to a school-record 24 wins last season.

“Macey is what I would consider a true point guard,” Martin said. “She can handle the ball, defend for 94 feet, and get the ball to our scorers. We will be able to really push the tempo on our fast break with Macey on the floor.

"Macey has a tremendous work ethic,” Martin added. “Her dedication to academics and to basketball is exactly what this program needs."

Nortey, a starter in the First Annual So-Cal Sparks All-Star Game, guided Millikan to a conference co-championship and the program’s first appearance in the state playoffs. Nortey said Youngstown State was a perfect fit for her to continue her education and basketball career.

“I chose Youngstown State because of the school, players and coaches.” Nortey said. “It fit every puzzle piece that I need to not only be a successful student-athlete but a better person. I felt right at home at YSU and I know we are going to be successful with the very talented coaching staff we have.

“I am excited to play with good post players and I know it will be my job to get them the ball,” Nortey added.
 
 
Martin Completes Staff With Hiring of Jen Duhnke, Shannon Sword
Thursday, May 1 2008
Courtesy of:
Youngstown – Youngstown State women's basketball Head Coach Cindy Martin announced on Thursday the completion of her coaching staff with the appointment of assistant coaches Jen Duhnke and Shannon Sword. Duhnke follows Martin to YSU from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) and Sword spent the last two seasons at Ashland University.

Duhnke (pronounced DUNK) spent the 2007-08 season as the top assistant at IUP, where she had responsibilities in the areas of recruiting, academic monitoring, on-floor coaching, scouting and team travel. She also spent the 2004-05 season at IUP as a graduate assistant.

"Jen was a huge part of the outstanding season we had at IUP last year and is the most dedicated assistant coach that I have worked with,” Martin said. “She has a passion and love for women's basketball that is second to no one.
“Jen is familiar with my coaching style and that will prove to be a huge benefit for our staff and the ladies. Jen will coordinate our team academics, strength and conditioning program, and direct our summer high school team camp. Jen will make an immediate impact here at YSU."

Prior to returning to IUP, Duhnke served as athletics director at Brookville Junior/Senior High School for one year. At Brookville, she directed all interscholastic athletic events for 18 sports, including game and transportation scheduling, hiring officials and overseeing athletic facilities. She also managed a budget of more than $200,000 and supervised more than 500 student-athletes and 100 coaches.

"I consider it a privilege to have worked with Coach Martin at IUP and am excited to join her new staff at YSU," Duhnke said. "I believe in Coach Martin's Three C's philosophy: Classroom, Community, and Court.
"Coach Martin is very organized, disciplined, is a true teacher of the game, and has a great ability to bring the best out of her players and coaching staff. I am ecstatic to further my coaching career at Youngstown State University."
Duhnke spent the 2005-06 season as an athletic department intern at Saint Francis (Pa.). Her responsibilities with the Red Flash included daily departmental operations and procedures, monitoring continuing eligibility and game-day management and promotional activities.

Duhnke earned a bachelor's degree in business management from Clarion in 2003 and a master's degree in sports management from IUP in 2006. She was a four-year letterwinner at Clarion, serving as co-captain her senior year when she averaged 4.2 assists to rank seventh in the PSAC. Her 112 assists that year is the 12th highest single-season mark in school history.

After graduating from Clarion, Duhnke was a facility and stadium operations intern at Heinz Field while also volunteering as girl's varsity basketball coach at Redbank Valley High School.

Sword joins the YSU staff after serving as a graduate assistant coach at Ashland for two seasons. With the Eagles, Sword was responsible for on-floor coaching, film exchange and day-to-day operations of the program. the program.

"Shannon was extremely aggressive during the interview process with me,” Martin said. “She has a tremendous work ethic and knowledge of the game, especially working with post players.
"Shannon has numerous Ohio connections and has been involved with every aspect of coaching a successful women’s basketball program in her four years of experience."

“Shannon has four years of Horizon League experience as a student-athlete that will make her a natural fit to handle our team travel, in addition to organizing our team community service and directing our summer day camp."

Prior to Ashland, Sword spent a season as the top assistant coach at Manhattanville College, where she worked with the post players and helped organize and conduct team practices.

Sword has also been the head coach of the Dayton Lady Hoopsters, a 15-and-under AAU team and an assistant at Miamisburg High School. In her lone season at Miamisburg the squad went 23-1 and ranked fourth in the final state poll.

A native of Miamisburg, Ohio, Sword had a prolific playing career at Cleveland State University where she was a four-year letterwinner and three-year starter.

"Both Coach Martin's passion for basketball and her vision for the YSU women's basketball program have excited me from the moment I first spoke with her about this great opportunity," Sword said. "I am also excited about the opportunity to stay in Ohio and return to the Horizon League, as I feel it is a great league with a lot to offer its players and coaches.

"I am eager to begin working with Coach Martin, an excellent coach with a very successful background, and I know we will work hard to bring the winning tradition back to YSU. I am also looking forward to working with the great group of ladies on this team as we prepare for the upcoming season."

A First-Team All-Horizon League pick in 2003-04, she was the team captain and most valuable player her senior year. Sword is CSU's all-time leader in career three-point percentage (.380), and ranks second in career free-throw percentage (.802), tied for sixth in games played (113), 12th in scoring (1,136) and 13th in rebounding (523).

Sword is also the all-time leading scorer in Miamisburg High School history.

Sword graduated magna cum laude from Cleveland State in 2004 with a degree in sport management. She was on the Horizon League All-Academic Team for four years and was a four-time CSU Athletic Academic Excellence award winner.

Sword is expected to graduate with her master's degree in sport education from Ashland in May 2008.