HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Former Highlands High School basketball standout Stephanie Ripberger, who spent the past two years at Wofford (S.C.) College, has transferred to Northern Kentucky University and will play for the Norse in 2003-04.
Ripberger, a 6-foot-2 forward, averaged 7.9 points per game last season for Division I Wofford. She also blocked a team-leading 34 shots in 2002-03 and scored a career-high 19 points against the University of North Carolina-Greensboro last season.
Ripberger scored in double figures seven times a year ago, and she finished with 13 points and eight rebounds against the University of Houston in an early-season game.
“Stephanie is really a fine athlete, and even though she is 6-foot-2, she likes to play on the perimeter and is more of a small forward than a post player,” said NKU head coach Nancy Winstel, who pointed out she hopes Ripberger can take the place of graduated starting forward Kristin Polosky.
“Stephanie is not as post-oriented as Polosky, but she did play inside at Wofford,” Winstel added. “Stephanie is an outstanding basketball player, and she is definitely going to help us next season.”
While a prep standout at Highlands, Ripberger scored more than 1,000 career points and was named 9th Region Player of the Year as a junior. Before suffering a season-ending knee injury during her senior year, Ripberger was averaging 12 points and four assists for the Bluebirds.
NKU has also added another transfer, 5-9 forward Sarah Woods from Presbyterian (S.C.) College. Woods, who was a prep standout for Calvary Christian in both basketball and volleyball, will have two years of eligibility remaining at NKU.
Woods averaged 4.5 ppg last season for Presbyterian, and she made 84.6 percent of her free throws. She saw action in all 27 games and averaged 19.8 minutes per contest.
“Sarah can really shoot the ball, and she has good quickness and the ability to create shots,” Winstel said. “She saw significant playing time for Presbyterian, and she will bring that experience to our program.”
Ripberger and Woods will join an NKU team that posted a 26-8 record and advanced to the NCAA Division II national championship game last season. The Norse - who have earned four trips to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight during the past five years - welcome back two starters from last year’s national runner-up team.
“I think Stephanie and Sarah will both have opportunities to help us next season, and we are glad they decided to come back to the area,” Winstel said.
In addition, NKU signed four high school players - Karmen Graham, Karyn Creager, Samantha Riley and Betsey Clark - and will also add Cleveland State University transfer Nikki Perkins in 2003-04. Perkins was Cleveland State’s starting point guard as a sophomore and averaged 4.5 ppg and 4.0 assists per contest.
“We lost a great deal from last season, but we have also added a very good group of newcomers,” Winstel said. “They have seen the success we have enjoyed over the years, and I know they want it to continue.”
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Stephanie Ripberger |
Sarah Woods |