SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Cal State San Marcos head women's basketball coach Sheri Jennum announced the signing of eight student-athletes who will join the Cougars for the 2012-13 campaign on Thursday.

Jennum's '12-'13 class includes four junior transfers – Nanice Kollee, Sherika Miller, Anna Nguyen, Kimberly Kipp – and four freshmen – Jessica Harris, Ashleigh Greaves, Morgan Johnson and Tessa Gonzalez. Kollee, Gonzalez, Harris and Nguyen will join the Cougar backcourt while Miller Kipp, Greaves and Johnson will play in the frontcourt.

I really like this group of kids coming in, as players and as young women. They bring so many positive qualities to our program,” said Jennum. “They are unselfish, compete hard and are focused on elevating the program to new heights. And they are athletic and versatile enough to play multiple positions. We are going to be fun to watch this year!”

Nanice Kollee, a 5'8'' junior out of Santa Barbara City College, averaged 10 points, 2.9 assists, 2.6 rebounds during her sophomore season to earn All-Western State Conference honors. She also earned all-league accolades in her junior and senior years at Thousand Oaks High School in the Conejo Valley.

“Nanice is going to thrive here. She is a born leader who is committed to being the best she can be. I am very excited to work with her. She is confident, yet extremely humble, putting team and family first. She is going to be a lot of fun to coach and I think our fans are going to love her passion,” said Jennum.

Sherika Miller, a 5'11 forward, comes to CSUSM after a pair of seasons at San Francisco State University. She appeared in 54 contests over two seasons with the Gators, making 17 starts. In 2010-11 as a freshman, Miller recorded five-straight double-digit scoring games, including a career-high 15 points against UC San Diego.

“Sherika is a terrific player on both ends, can play multiple positions and can inflict damage in so many ways. More importantly, she is a wonderful young lady who will bring great leadership and experience to this team,” said Jennum.

A junior transfer from Santa Ana College, Anna Nguyen earned first team all-conference honors in 2011-12. Nguyen is coming off a stellar sophomore year where she finished as the Orange Empire Conference's second-leading scorer at 16.9 points per game. Nguyen will pursue a degree in kinesiology.

“Anna is a fantastic player, an offensive scorer, and her points can come from all over the floor. She can excel in either a half court or transition game and she has terrific rebounding skills for a guard. She will be an impact player for us over the next two years,” said Jennum.

The final junior transfer for the '12-'13 squad is Kimberly Kipp, a 5'11'' junior post-player from San Bernardino Valley College. As captain of SBVC, Kipp helped lead the team to two Foothill Conference titles. She averaged nine points, seven rebounds and two steals per game in her final season on the way to an all-conference selection. A business major, she would like to eventually move into the field of radiology.

“Kim is going to bring a solid and steady presence inside for us. She does all the little things that a coach loves without having to tell her to do them. She has great leadership skills, came from a winning program and expects to win. She is tough-minded and has a passion for playing,” said Jennum.

A local product from Granite Hills High School, Jessica Harris will immediately compete for playing time as a freshman. A four-year all-league selection, Harris was named to the All-CIF San Diego Section team, All-East County Co-Player of the Year and MVP of the San Diego County All-Star Game. Her talents off the court equaled her on-court prowess, as she earned a 3.5 GPA or higher in all four years of high school.

“Jessica had an exceptional senior season here in San Diego, but has only begun to scratch the surface of how good she can be. We are going to help her to reach her full potential. She's a super sweet kid, but a tenacious player. I am really looking forward to working with her and our fans are really going to enjoy watching her these next four years,” said Jennum.

Ashleigh Greaves, a native of Adelaide, Australia, leaves the comforts of home to travel across the Pacific and join Jennum's squad at CSUSM. Greaves spent 11 years with her club, Sturt Sabres, leading Sabres to eight winter and nine summer club championships. She also earned two gold medals in the Victorian club championships. Greaves has been involved with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) program since 2006 and established her desire to play collegiate basketball in the United States on trips to the U.S. in 2007 and 2009. Her 4.0 GPA placed her in the top three-percent of students in her state.

“Ashleigh is a tremendous talent and everything she does, she does well. She is driven to be the best in the classroom off and on the court. She is another of our incoming players who can play multiple positions. As an international player, she has had a wealth of experience on the court. We expect big things from her,” said Jennum.

Morgan Johnson hails from Woodbridge High School in Irvine, Calif., where she averaged nine points, seven rebounds and 1.6 assists per game her senior season. A 6'0'' forward, she earned First Team All-Pacific Coast League and led Woodbridge to the league title.

“Morgan definitely flew under the radar this past year, and I believe she is going to blossom here. She has a solid skill set in the post and is comfortable facing the basket or with her back to it. She has a maturity beyond her years, and I'm really happy she is joining our family,” said Jennum.

A 5'7'' shooting guard from San Jose, Tessa Gonzalez led Pioneer High School to consecutive league titles and was a two-time All-Blossom Valley Athlete League selection. She also ran track and played soccer in high school.

“Tessa has a warm and giving personality that fits wonderfully with our team. She has a passion for basketball that is infectious. She's another of our freshmen that will excel in our system. Our team and fans will enjoy watching her on the court and getting to know her as a person,” said Jennum.

The newest eight Cougars will join a CSUSM squad coming off an A.I.I. Conference title in its first year of existence. Seven players from the 2011-12 team return this season.

The 2012-13 CSUSM women's basketball schedule and season ticket plan will be released September 12 on CSUSMcougars.com.