Illinois State women’s basketball coach Barb Smith is rebuilding the roster after a 2-28 season. (Photo courtesy GoRedbirds.com)
By ISU Sports Infomation
NORMAL – The Illinois State women’s basketball program and head coach Barb Smith signed three players to National Letters of Intent, as announced Tuesday.
Brechelle Beachum, Viria Livingston and Millie Stevens signed on to continue their athletic and academic careers at Illinois State.
Beachum and Livingston were recruited as guards, while Stevens will join the team as a forward. The three recruits will look to make a big impact on the Redbird roster next season.
“All three players will add versatility, ball handling, scoring, physical play and toughness to our team,” Smith said. “I love the work ethic of this group, and I can’t wait to get them here and begin working with them.”
Beachum, a 5-8 guard from Western Texas College averaged 19.0 points per game over the last 12 games of the 2014-15 season, leading the team to post season play .
“Brechelle is a physical guard, who has an explosive first step and can power herself to the rim,” Smith said. “She works extremely hard and was instrumental in the very successful run of Western Texas College this past season.”
Livingston, a 5-6 guard from Minnetonka, Minn. was a three-time state champion with Hopkins High School and named the Hopkins Most Valuable Player in 2011.
“Viria is a versatile guard, who plays with a lot of heart and a lot of tenacity,” Smith said. “She defends, rebounds, can get to the rim and thrives on contact. Her toughness and tenacity on defense are going to help set the tone against versatile offensive opponents.”
Stevens, a 6-1 forward from Surrey, England, played for the WBBL’s Sevenoaks Suns. She was named the Most Valuable Player by the Great Britain Performance Manager in the 2015 National Cup Final in Manchester, helping the Sevenoaks Suns win a 62-59 game with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
“Millie is a six-foot-tall versatile forward. Millie’s main asset is that she loves to run the floor,” Smith said. “She is fast up and down, and she is explosive to the basket. Millie is definitely going to love the guard play of our team. She is hungry and a worker. Millie brings maturity, leadership, a work ethic and the desire to be the best she can be.”
