Five players were added to the Husker women's basketball roster today. The three incoming freshman have been long known and two-sport standout, Alicia Ostrander was announced last week. Ostrander is a 6'3" outside hitter for the Nebraska volleyball team and will turn to hoops after she completes her senior season in volleyball. She will have one season of basketball eligibility.
The new name to surface today was that of graduate transfer player Kyndal Clark. The 5'5" guard from Drake has chosen to compete for the Huskers for her final college season. Clark is an intriguing addition as she averaged 19.3 points per game while knocking down a Missouri Valley Conference-record 116 three-pointers as a junior for the Bulldogs in 2013-14. Clark hit 41.1 percent of her threes on the season, including a scorching 45.3 percent (78-172) in MVC play.
She was the 2014 Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year and a 2015 member of the WBCA Allstate Good Works Team. She started all 98 games of her Drake career, including the season opener against South Dakota in 2014-15, when she scored 17 points in 37 minutes before suffering a season-ending injury.
"We are thrilled to add a player of Kyndal Clark's caliber to our program, even if it is for just one season," Nebraska Coach Connie Yori said. "We recruited Kyndal out of Webb City High School, and we are excited to finally get a chance to coach her. She is coming off a pretty significant injury, but when she is healthy she is a talented player. She also can add a lot of leadership to our program."
Clark gives Coach Yori more offensive firepower to add with other scoring threats Natalie Romeo, Rachel Theriot, and highly-anticipated incoming freshman, Jessica Shepard. Clark and Ostrander also bring some veteran presence and leadership to a team that was originally slated to have only one 2015-16 senior in Rachel Theriot.
Women's basketball announcer Matt Coatney is already getting advice on calling a game:
@Coatman1 Matt Coatney PBP call "Kyndal to the hole for 2. She’s as smooth as a CLARK bar" Thank me later.
— Gary Sharp (@GarySharp1620) May 15, 2015
Alicia Ostrander is no slouch on the hoops scene, despite having focused on volleyball to this point in her college career. In high school, she was a two-time all-state first team (class C-1) selection in Nebraska. Her 933 career rebounds rank 20th in Nebraska state history. She is expected to bolster the the inside game and take on a role similar to that of Halie Sample.
Ostrander's career highs in HS include games with 43 points, 30 rebounds, and 15 blocks (different games). #huskers
— Ryan Mix (@RyanMixTV) May 15, 2015
The incoming freshman include two of the top 20 national high school post players in #1 Jessica Shepard (five stars; 6'4" from Fremont, NE) and #17 Rachel Blackburn (three stars; 6'2" from Leavenworth, KS). Rounding out the class is the #22 guard in the country, Maddie Simon (three stars, 6'1" from Lincoln, NE).
It looks like a fun season is shaping up for women's hoops in Nebraska. #GBR