Head Women's Basketball Coach Kent Madsen (PICTURED ABOVE) has recently announced the arrival of four new student-athletes who have chosen to continue their education and have submitted their deposit to attend Wheaton College, with the intent to play for the Thunder women's basketball team beginning in the fall of 2013-14. The four players come from four different states. Madsen says, "I am very encouraged by the talent of this incoming class. With the graduation of three guards who contributed significantly to our program this past season, I knew that we needed to bring in talent at that position. This group has some players that I believe will help us increase our overall talent on the court and prove to become key contributors to our team in the immediate future. Beyond their abilities on the basketball court, what probably excites me most is that these are four young women who represent exactly what we are looking for in a Wheaton basketball player. They are committed to the classroom and desire to grow spiritually.I am excited to have them as a part of our program for the next four years."

The newcomers with plans to join the Thunder in 2012-13 are:

Abby Dorman (Colorado Springs, Colo./Evangelical Christian Academy) is a 5'8" guard who led Evangelical Christian Academy (ECA) in scoring with 15 points per game her senior year. She was on the 2011 ECA team that earned a second-place finish and the 2012 team that earned a third place finish in the Colorado 2A Girls' Basketball Tournament.  Abby earned All-League honors on the basketball court during the 2012 and 2013 seasons, and she was selected to the Southern Colorado All-Star Game the past two seasons. In addition to these basketball-related accomplishments, Abby graduated as salutatorian of her high school and received National Merit Commended Scholar honors.

Katie McDaniels (Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View High School) is a 5'8" guard who played on the varsity team all four years of high school. She led her team in scoring and assists in her junior and senior seasons, averaging 16.7 points and 5.3 assists as a senior. She earned All-State honors in 2012.  Katie, a two time All-Conference selection, was named to the All-Pioneer Press Team and was an All-State honorable mention selection by the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, and coaches association. The senior captain finished her career with 1138 points.  In addition, Katie was a three-time Academic All-State honoree and a 2013 East Metro Athena Award winner presented to senior female student-athletes that display excellence in academics and athletics.

Chantal Meacham (Champaign, Ill./Centennial High School) is a 5'8" guard who was a member of the 2012-13 Centennial team that finished 29-4 in her senior season. Meacham played on the varsity unit all four years and also served as a team captain. Meacham earned Big 12 All-Conference honors in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 and also received Big 12 Scholar Athlete honors in 2012 and 2013. She was a News Gazette All-Area selection in 2011, 2012 and 2013 and earned an IHSA Scholastic Achievement award in 2012 and 2013. She also was tabbed as an Illinois Basketball Coaches' Association All-State selection in 2012 and 2013. In addition to these basketball related accomplishments, Chantal was recognized as a 2013 Illinois State Scholar and received Centennial High School's "Highest Scholastic Honors" for the 2013 school year.

Melodie Yu (Irvine, Calif./University High School) is a 5'9" forward who was a three-year varsity player as a prep. As a junior she served as a starter for a University High School team that went 19-9 and finished as the Pacific Coast League champions. As a senior captain and starter her University High School team went 16-11, with Melodie leading the team with 14 points and 12 rebounds per game to earn First Team All-Pacific Coast League honors.  In addition, Melodie was named the team's Most Valuable Player, was a 2013 Academic Award winner, and she was named a 2013 Scholar-Athlete.