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Former Penn State Standout Gissendanner Joins Red Flash Women's Basketball Staff as Horton Resigns

LORETTO, Pa. (June 5, 2009) – Saint Francis women's basketball head coach Susan Robinson Fruchtl announced Friday that former Penn State standout Kamela (Kam) Gissendanner will join the Red Flash as an assistant coach.  Gissendanner takes the place of Crystal Horton, who resigned this May.  

“While we are sad to see Crystal leave our program, we are thrilled to hire a more than capable replacement,” said Robinson Fruchtl, who was an assistant on the Penn State staff during Dissendanner's career.  “Kam brings proven success as a student-athlete in her playing days at both NC State and Penn State.  She also brings valuable knowledge from her international playing experience.  Kam will be tremendous in working closely with our guards and forwards.  She comes with a lot of energy and enthusiasm, and will help motivate our young players.  Being from Pittsburgh, Kam is a well-known figure in the western Pennsylvania basketball scene.  We are glad to welcome her to Saint Francis.  

Gissendanner spent the last year playing professional basketball for the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA as well as in Europe.   She led the Kvinnenligaen League in scoring while playing for Gimle of Norway by averaging 22 points and 10 rebounds per game.  Gissendanner also spent time with Cassovia Kosice in Slovakia.  

While at Penn State, Gissendanner scored 1,238 points in 91 games, ranking her 21st in all-time scoring.   Her 34-point performance against Texas Tech in December of 2005 is tied for 20th on the Nittany Lion's All-Time Single Game Records List.   She was an All-Conference Third Team selection as a senior in 2008 and earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honors as a sophomore and junior. Gissendanner assisted with the PSU sports camps and completed an internship at the Morgan Academic Support Center.  She graduated in 2008 with a degree in Rehabilitation Services.  Prior to arriving in State College, Gissendanner spent a season at North Carolina State.

Gissendanner will take over travel coordination and will serve as the alumni liaison.  She will assist strength and conditioning coach Jesse Webber with the team's conditioning program, and will also assist in scouting and guard development.  

“I am so thrilled to have this opportunity to be a part of the Red Flash family,” said Gissendanner.  “ There is no better person than Susan that I would want to start my coaching career with.  I look forward to this awesome experience.”

Horton, who helped guide the Red Flash to the championship game of the Northeast Conference tournament, resigned in May to spend more time with her family.  She gave birth last week to a daughter, Moriyah, and also has an 18-month-old son Nehemiah.  

“We're sorry that Crystal has resigned her position of Assistant Coach,” said Robinson Fruchtl, who enters her third season with the Red Flash.  “We are grateful for her service to Saint Francis and congratulate her on the addition to her family.  Crystal will be greatly missed, and we appreciate all that she did for our program.”

The Red Flash open the 2009-10 season with at Marquette on November 14.
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