LORETTO, Pa. – Saint Francis University women's basketball head coach Keila Whittington welcomes a talented and athletic group of five new members. The five student-athletes signed their National Letters of Intent during the November signing period and are slated to join the Red Flash next summer in preparation for the 2022-23 season.
 
"During the spring and summer of recruiting, it was important for us to evaluate what we will lose from our current seniors, the talent we have in our incoming 2021 freshmen class, and what type of players we would need to continue to build for the future," said Whittington. "We found five players who will fill in the gaps, along with the players we have returning next season. Each player brings passion and a love for the game, athleticism, and a desire to join a program that works hard to fight for and win championships.
 
"Katie, Destini, Semaya, Jules, and Jade are exactly the types of players we had in mind when we envisioned our needs for this class," said Whittington. "To all of their credit, they are all very bright students in the classroom, and they cherish the fact that they can excel in the classroom and on the basketball court at Saint Francis."
 
Katie Ambrose
Ambrose is a 5-5 guard from Naples, Fla., where she plays for Gulf Coast High School and the Tampa Thunder. She is a three-year letter winner with 1,222 points, 665 assists, 428 rebounds and 363 steals in her career. She averaged 10 points, 5.6 assists, 2.5 steals and three rebounds per game during her 2020-21 junior season, when she also earned All-District, All-Conference First Team and was a Conference Player of the Year finalist. As a freshman and sophomore, Ambrose was All-District and All-Conference First Team. She is a three-time District, Conference and Regional Champion and a State Runner-Up her freshman year.
 
She is a member of National Honor Society and has earned high honor roll for her academic excellence throughout her high school career. Ambrose intends to major in exercise physiology at Saint Francis.
 
"Katie is a dynamic, pass first point guard. She is a gym rat and a workout queen who plays with a chip on her shoulder," said Whittington. "Known as 'Spark Plug' to those who know her and have seen her play, she can score at all levels and is just as feisty on the defensive end of the floor."
 
Destini Ward
Ward is a 5-8 guard from Baltimore, where she plays for Western Tech High School and Team Thrill. She was selected Baltimore County All-Division Team during her freshman and sophomore seasons and All-Tournament First Team her freshman year. She helped guide her team to an 18-5 record during the 2019-20 season and has a career-high of 22 points in one game.
 
Ward has served as Student Government Association secretary and vice president. She has been a member of National Technical Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and Honor Roll during her high school career. She intends to major in physical therapy.
 
"Destini is a strong, powerful and tenacious defender who brings speed and intensity to the court," said Whittington. "She can score at all levels, but she is primarily known for getting to the rim and her pull up jumper. She takes pride in her work ethic to lead by example on and off the basketball court."
 
Semaya Turner
Turner is a 5-11 guard from Rockaway, N.J., where she plays for Morris Hills High School and the New Jersey Panthers. She is a two-year Morris Hills team captain, with her third on the way as a senior. She is coming off a junior season where she averaged 12.5 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. In her career, Turner has 64 games played, 584 points, 501 rebounds, 119 steals, 99 blocks through three seasons. She has earned first and second team All-Conference honors and All-NJAC in her career.
 
In addition to playing basketball, Turner, preferred name Maya, also runs track and field. She is an honor roll student who intends to major in criminal justice.
 
"Semaya is a long and lanky, big guard who also has the versatility to play small forward," said Whittington. "She runs the floor extremely hard on the break and can also rebound and push it up off the dribble. She can score on all levels and will be a defensive presence on the floor."
 
Julianna Gibson
Gibson is a 6-2 forward from Colts Neck, N.J., where she plays for Colts Neck High School and N.J. Belles. She amassed 79 points, 79 rebounds, 17 steals and seven blocks in 13 games during the 2020-21 season. Gibson is a District Champion and comes from an athletic family. Her grandfather played football and basketball at John's Hopkins, her one sister ran track at American University and her other sister plays basketball at Salisbury University.
 
The athletic forward is a three-sport participant, also on the track and field and volleyball team. She is a team State Champion in track and field and an individual Section Champion in the discus. She is a member of National Honors Society and still undecided on a college major.
 
"Jules is a versatile post player who runs the floor very well on the break," said Whittington. "She can score inside on the block and step out to the three-point line to stretch the defense. She is also a great passer and will be counted on to rebound and add depth to our post game."
 
Jade Campbell
Campbell is a 6-0 forward from Brooklyn, N.Y., where she plays for Medgar Evers College Preparatory School and BTB Family club team. She is entering her fourth year as a captain and is a three-time regular season champion at Medgar Evers. She has over 700 points scored in her three seasons and has a single-game career-high of 33 points and 23 rebounds.
 
The New York City native intends to major in biology upon her arrival to Saint Francis.
 
"Jade is a strong and powerful post player who will be a defensive presence. Her versatility will allow her to post up on the block and step out on the perimeter to drive and shoot the jumper," said Whittington. "She is a raw talent who is still learning the game, but her athleticism will help us guard bigger post players."
 
Hired in May of 2021, assistant coaches Brooklyn Taylor and Erika Brown helped coach Whittington assemble the group of five athletes through their prior experiences.
 
"I would like to recognize my assistants, Brooklyn and Erika, for taking over recruiting when they arrived and using their connections to find exactly the right student-athletes for this 2022 recruiting class," said Whittington. "They worked tirelessly to build relationships with the recruits, their families and their coaches, and their efforts will make our team better in future."
 
With the potential and athleticism this class possesses, the Saint Francis women's basketball program and Red Flash fans will be eager to add this group ahead of the 2022-23 season.