University of Richmond Athletics
Women’s Basketball Adds Three Transfers to 2024-25 Roster
05/07/2024 | Women's Basketball
RICHMOND, Va. – Head Women's Basketball Coach Aaron Roussell announced on Tuesday the addition of transfers Stephanie Ouderkirk, Sam Dewey and Faith Alston to the Spider roster ahead of the 2024-25 season.
"These newest additions will complement our incoming freshmen and returners to allow us to maintain our championship aspirations and standards," Roussell said. "We had a special team that just experienced a historic season, and I know the taste of success will only further drive next year's roster."
Ouderkirk, a 6-1 forward from James Madison, is coming off a Sun Belt Conference runner up season with the Dukes. The Penn Laird, Va. native, appeared in all 35 games in 2023-24 and made 26 starts while averaging 3.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg. She finished fourth on the team in assists (71) and assists per game (2.0) and posted a career-high 16 points on 6-of-10 (.600) from the field at Xavier on 11/11/23.
"Steph's length, versatility, skills and IQ are a perfect fit for what our team needs," Roussell said. "She can play and guard multiple positions, which will allow her to impact our team in so many ways."
Dewey, a 6-2 forward from Melrose, Mass., joins the Spider roster from Illinois, where she spent two seasons with the Fighting Illini. As a freshman, Dewey appeared in 13 games and tallied four points, three rebounds and one assist in her Illinois debut vs LIU on 11/9/22. Last season, she received Academic All-Big Ten honors and posted six points on 100% shooting in the Illinois win at Northwestern on 1/14/24.
"Sam is a great fit for our team and style of play," Roussell continued. "She has great size; can really shoot the ball and will battle defensively in the post. She reminds me of many high-impact players we've had in the past at that position."
Alston, a 5-7 guard from Centerville, Va., comes to Richmond following three standout seasons at App State. In 2023-24, Alston finished the year as the leading scorer for the Mountaineers, averaging 18.3 ppg, good for 49th nationally, including 21 points versus the Spiders on 12/10/23, dished out 4.7 assists per game and was third in the Sun Belt Conference in total assists (150). Alston also picked up All-Conference Second Team honors last season.
"The experience that Faith brings to our team and her position will be huge for our program," Roussell said. "She has all the physical tools to dominate a game, which combined with her passion and competitive fire, will make our team and each of her teammates better."
Richmond is coming off a historic 2023-24 season, including a 2024 Atlantic 10 Regular Season title, an Atlantic 10 Championship crown, an automatic bid into the 2024 NCAA DI Women's Basketball Championship and an undefeated 14-0 record inside the Robins Center. The Spiders also finished first in the A-10 in assists per game (15.5), blocks per game (5.7, 7th nationally), field goal percentage (47.3%, 12th nationally), scoring offense (73.1), three point percentage (38.1%, 7th nationally) and win percentage (82.9%, 16th nationally).
"These newest additions will complement our incoming freshmen and returners to allow us to maintain our championship aspirations and standards," Roussell said. "We had a special team that just experienced a historic season, and I know the taste of success will only further drive next year's roster."
Ouderkirk, a 6-1 forward from James Madison, is coming off a Sun Belt Conference runner up season with the Dukes. The Penn Laird, Va. native, appeared in all 35 games in 2023-24 and made 26 starts while averaging 3.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg. She finished fourth on the team in assists (71) and assists per game (2.0) and posted a career-high 16 points on 6-of-10 (.600) from the field at Xavier on 11/11/23.
"Steph's length, versatility, skills and IQ are a perfect fit for what our team needs," Roussell said. "She can play and guard multiple positions, which will allow her to impact our team in so many ways."
Dewey, a 6-2 forward from Melrose, Mass., joins the Spider roster from Illinois, where she spent two seasons with the Fighting Illini. As a freshman, Dewey appeared in 13 games and tallied four points, three rebounds and one assist in her Illinois debut vs LIU on 11/9/22. Last season, she received Academic All-Big Ten honors and posted six points on 100% shooting in the Illinois win at Northwestern on 1/14/24.
"Sam is a great fit for our team and style of play," Roussell continued. "She has great size; can really shoot the ball and will battle defensively in the post. She reminds me of many high-impact players we've had in the past at that position."
Alston, a 5-7 guard from Centerville, Va., comes to Richmond following three standout seasons at App State. In 2023-24, Alston finished the year as the leading scorer for the Mountaineers, averaging 18.3 ppg, good for 49th nationally, including 21 points versus the Spiders on 12/10/23, dished out 4.7 assists per game and was third in the Sun Belt Conference in total assists (150). Alston also picked up All-Conference Second Team honors last season.
"The experience that Faith brings to our team and her position will be huge for our program," Roussell said. "She has all the physical tools to dominate a game, which combined with her passion and competitive fire, will make our team and each of her teammates better."
Richmond is coming off a historic 2023-24 season, including a 2024 Atlantic 10 Regular Season title, an Atlantic 10 Championship crown, an automatic bid into the 2024 NCAA DI Women's Basketball Championship and an undefeated 14-0 record inside the Robins Center. The Spiders also finished first in the A-10 in assists per game (15.5), blocks per game (5.7, 7th nationally), field goal percentage (47.3%, 12th nationally), scoring offense (73.1), three point percentage (38.1%, 7th nationally) and win percentage (82.9%, 16th nationally).
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