Head coach Matt Ruffing has announced the addition of seven student-athletes to the University of Evansville women’s basketball team for the 2018-19 season.
“This is an exciting recruiting class,” said Aces head coach Matt Ruffing. “”In this class, our staff sees winners, leaders, shooters, defenders, and rebounders. This group will add much needed versatility to our lineup.”
Evansville’s crop of signees feature six incoming freshman and a transfer, representing five states including a pair of incoming student-athletes from Indiana and Missouri and single student-athletes coming to Evansville from Florida, Kentucky, and Minnesota.
Joining the Aces for the 2018 season are Tayzha Buck (Red Wing, Minn.), Sydne Caddy (Fernandina Beach, Calif.), A’Niah Griffin (Louisville, Ky.), Anna Newman (Evansville, Ind.), Jada Poland (St. Louis, Mo.), Sydney Tucker (Frankton, Ind.), and Makayla Wallace (Kirkwood, Mo.).
“This seven-member class has a special opportunity to leave a lasting mark on this program.,” said Ruffing. “Now it’s time to get to work!.”
The first signee of the 2018 class for the Aces is guard Tayzha Buck. A native of Red Wing, Minn., Buck was named class AAA All-State in Minnesota after a strong senior campaign at Red Wing High School. Buck averaged 14.9 points per game last season for the Wingers.
Another guard joining Evansville is Sydne Caddy. Coming to the Aces from Fernandina Beach High School in Fernandina Beach, Fla., the 5’10” guard averaged 12.2 points per game a season ago at Fernandina Beach High School, adding 4.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 3.0 steals per contest.
Joining the Aces as an incoming freshman is A’Niah Griffin. Hailing from Louisville, Ky., Griffin starred for Louisville Manual High School. Griffin helped lead Manual to the final eight of the Kentucky High School Sports Association Girls Basketball Tournament in 2018.
Traveling just down the road to wear the purple and white is guard Anna Newman. The Evansville North High School product averaged a career-high 18.2 points per contest during her senior campaign in 2017-18, earning her a spot on the Indiana All-Star team. Newman was one of just 13 girls basketball seniors from the state Indiana to be named to the prestigious team. The all-time leading scorer in North High School history, Newman amassed 1,417 points during her career for the Huskies and helped lead North to 64 wins including 20 in 2016-17, a school record.
Following a pair of seasons at North Texas, forward Jada Poland returns to the Midwest. The St. Louis, Mo. native saw three starts for the Mean Green this past season as a sophomore, averaging 2.2 points and 3 rebounds per game, including tying a career-high with 10 boards against Western Kentucky on January 26. In high school, Poland averaged 15.7 points per game in her senior season, while averaging a double-double over her final two prep seasons. Poland continues to hold the Fort Zumwalt High School career women’s basketball scoring mark with over 1,400 points.
After a strong prep career, guard Sydney Tucker travels south to join Ruffing’s team. A native of Frankton, Ind., Tucker averaged 19.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.2 steals, and 2.1 rebounds in her senior season at Frankton High School where she led the Eagles to an IHSAA semi-state appearance in 2017-18.
A 5’4″ point guard, Makayla Wallace is the sixth signee for the Aces. Coming to Evansville from Kirkwood, Mo., Wallace enjoyed a strong senior season with Kirkwood High School as the point guard helped lead the Warriors’ to back-to-back Missouri Class 5 girls basketball state championships and three-straight state semifinal appearances.
