Bearcat women announce early signees

Head Coach Mark Kellogg inked two basketball players at the early signing period for the 2013-14 season Thursday.

Ashley Guenther, from Independence, and Morgan Dittberner, from Louisville, Neb., announced intents to sign with the Bearcat women's basketball team.

"We tried to put pieces together that complement each other, our current team and our future," Kellogg said. "In this class we have the size, speed and athleticism that will give us the needed depth to compete for championships. This signing class is the epitome of a student-athlete, they are unbelievable people and their work ethic and self-motivation will serve our program well both on and off the court. Both are young ladies mature beyond their years."

Guenther was an all-conference forward at Truman High as a junior earning all-district and all-area honors. The 5-11 Guenther averaged 10 points per game and five rebounds helping her team to a 21-5 mark.

"Ashley is a versatile player who really understands how to play basketball," Kellogg said. "She is aggressive and vocal and she's incredibly passionate about the sport. Athletically, Ashley brings us size and the ability to score in a variety of ways. Her gift, though, is her mobility on the court. We also see her as being a good defender due to her athleticism and length.She will flourish in our up-tempo style of play and has the ability to score inside and out. Her motor just never stops. She will really shine in our system and be a vital part of this programs rise to success."

Dittberner enters her senior year at Louisville High School after averaging 12 points per game as the teams scoring leader and setting school records in three-pointers in a season and blocks in a game.

The 6-0 forward has been all-conference and two-time all-state selection. She has also been an all-conference and all-state volleyball player at LHS.

"Morgan is a kid that everybody calls a pure shooter, but what she really is an unassuming scorer," commented Kellogg. "She's a better passer and creator than anybody gives her credit. She is a smooth, scoring wing who can really shoot the basketball and just knows how to play the game."

The two signings are the first at the early period for Kellogg who has helped guide the Bearcats to a 2-0 start.