Women's Basketball Signs Trio of Student-Athletes for Next Season

Head Coach Jennifer Rizzotti announced the signing of three players who will join the Hawks for the 2012-13 season and join the Class of 2016 at Hartford.

Katelyn Skinner (Homer City, Pa.), Christie Michals (Fairfax, Va.),and Mallory Shickora (Little Falls, N.J.) all look to continue the women’s basketball tradition at Hartford..

“I couldn't be more excited to bring in three high quality student-athletes to our program next year,” said Rizzotti. “They stand for everything we believe in at Hartford - toughness, unselfishness, integrity and a commitment to academics. They have tremendous potential to become great players on the court, but they truly understand what it takes to be successful and that means the sky is the limit for what they can accomplish at the University of Hartford."

Skinner is a 5-10 guard who is entering her senior season at Homer Center High School in Homer City, Pa. Last season, Skinner averaged 18.4 points-per-game while eclipsing the 1,000 point plateau and leading her high school team to the PIAA Class A Semifinals. Following her junior season, Skinner was named to the Associated Press Class A All-State First Team after not only leading her team in scoring but also in steals, while finishing second in rebounding and assists. Skinner played her AAU ball for the PA Pride..

"There are not a lot of players out there that love the game of basketball more than Katelyn,” proclaimed Rizzotti. “I love that her desire to come to Hartford stemmed from my challenge that I would push her to be the best player she's capable of.  She has a great scorer's mentality from the wing but it's her work ethic and toughness that will allow her to successfully transition to the college level. I love her enthusiasm about how we do things here because I know she'll come to practice eager to get better every day.".

Michals is a 6-1 forward who enters her senior year at Robinson Secondary High School in Fairfax, Va. The Fairfax, Va. native missed her junior season due to injury. As a sophomore, Michals averaged 6.2 points and 4.2 rebounds-per-game as her squad finished 10-10 overall. Outside of high school, Michals played AAU ball with the Virginia Matrix Aces..

"Christie knew right away what she was looking for in a college program both athletically and academically,” commented Rizzotti. “Her maturity and initiative will be advantages as she starts her college career. She is one of the most versatile post players we've ever recruited and her basketball IQ tops the charts as well. She fits perfectly into the tradition our program has established and she is the model for the type of student-athlete we always try to bring to Hartford..

Shickora is a 5-8 point guard entering her senior season at Mount Saint Dominic Academy in Caldwell, N.J. The Little Falls, N.J. native has started the past three seasons and averaged 11.5 points and 7.5 assists per game as a junior, while earning a spot on the All-Super Essex Conference team. Shickora played AAU ball with the New Jersey Panthers..

"Every coach wants a point guard who is tough, confident and vocal,” said Rizzotti. “Mallory brings all three qualities to the table at a position where we need more depth. She is athletic, smart and wants the ball in her hands to make decisions. I look forward to working with her as a point guard to understand what it takes to lead our team to continued success at a high level. I am confident she is ready for that challenge."