The Bowling Green State University women’s basketball has signed three student-athletes to National Letters of Intent. Guards Kennedy Kirkpatrick of Lawrence, Kansas and Rachel Konieczki of Rockford, Ill., along with center Abby Siefker of Ottoville, Ohio, will join the Falcon program for the 2013-14 academic year.
“Our staff is thrilled to announce the signing of three recruits in the 2012 recruiting class,” Falcons coach Jennifer Roos said. “These three young women have all of the qualities that we were looking for during the recruiting process.
“All three recruits have outstanding character, are in the top of their class academically, are fierce competitors and want to make an impact at Bowling Green. I strongly believe that they will make our program better the first day they arrive on campus.”
Kirkpatrick is a 5-10 guard who is currently in her senior year at Free State High School. She was named to the all-state first team in Division 6A (the large-school division) as a junior, after leading the Firebirds to a school-record 16 wins. Kirkpatrick averaged 18.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game last season. She earned all-state second-team honors as a sophomore, averaging 15 ppg that season.
Last year, Kirkpatrick set school single-season records for points (393), field goals made (113) and three-point field goals made (53). She set the school’s single-season assists record (90) as a sophomore, and already owns Free State’s career mark for three-pointers, with 112 made entering her senior year. She was named to the All-Sunflower League First Team a year ago.
“Kennedy is one of the most talented shooting guards in the Midwest, who can score in a variety of ways," Roos said. "Not only does she have a scoring mentality, but she is proven scorer at the top high-school level and AAU level. She truly values what it means to be a team player, and will set high goals for the team and herself to achieve as a freshman.”
Click here to read a feature on Kirkpatrick.
Konieczki is a 5-3 point guard who attends Rockford Lutheran H.S. She earned all-state first-team honors as a junior after being named to the second team as a sophomore. A three-time All-Big Northern Conference First-Team selection, Konieczki averaged 14.4 points, 5.7 assists and 3.2 steals per game a year ago, helping the Crusaders to a 24-9 mark and a Big Northern West title.
She helped the team to a 29-1 mark as a sophomore, averaging 11.8 points, 5.7 assists and 4.2 steals that winter.
That sophomore season, she scored 37 points in the Crusaders’ sectional win over No. 5 ranked Port Byron Riverdale, going 11-of-14 from the field. She scored those 37 points despite taking only one shot in the final 12 minutes after her team had built a 20-point lead. Rockford Lutheran has won conference titles in each of her first three seasons, and the Crusaders won regional championships in each of the last two years.
“I have not met a player who is in the gym more than Rachel,” said Roos. “She has an extremely high basketball IQ, and she will become a coach on the floor at the point-guard position. Rachel has strong leadership skills and has the uncanny ability to make everyone around her better. She is a true competitor who can shoot the three and create off of the dribble.”
Click here to read a feature on Konieczki.
Siefker is a 6-2 center who attends Ottoville High School. She earned All-Ohio second team honors last season after leading the Big Green to the regional finals in Division IV. Siefker averaged a double-double, with 14.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, and was named Putnam County League Player of the Year. Siefker helped coach Dave Kleman’s team to a 23-1 record last season.
Siefker has been named to the All-PCL First Team in each of the last two seasons after earning second-team honors as a freshman. She has averaged a double-double in each of the first three years, with 12.0 points and 10.6 rebounds per game in her freshman season and 12.2 ppg and 10.9 rpg as a sophomore.
The team has gone 7-0 in PCL play in each of Siefker’s first three seasons on the varsity. She has also lettered in volleyball, soccer and track, garnering all-league honorable mention in both volleyball and soccer and earning All-Ohio honors in track after helping her 4x800-meter relay team place fourth at the state meet.
“Abby was the first player in the Class of 2013 to verbally commit to BG and the new staff,” said Roos. “She brings size, skill and toughness to our team. Being the lone local recruit in this class, she knows our program and our style very well. She will be able to score inside, outside and in transition. Having played for one of the top AAU teams in Ohio, Abby has developed a true post presence on the floor.”
Click here to read a feature on Siefker.
Kirkpatrick, Konieczki and Siefker will join Erica Donovan in their first playing seasons in 2013-14. Donovan, a 5-11 guard who played one year at North Carolina State University, is sitting out the 2012-13 campaign due to NCAA transfer rules.
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