Tampa Republic

University of Tampa women's basketball coach Tom Jessee has announced his eight newcomers for the upcoming 2022-23 season. The newest Spartans total five transfers and three incoming freshmen.

Among the newcomers are transfers Alani Gallagher (Saint Leo), Sarah Jones (Embry-Riddle), Sydney Kin (Findlay), Audra Leipold (Samford) and Bella Steidle (Loyola Maryland).

The three freshmen include Adeline Kent (Becker, Minn.), Neri Moreau (St. Cloud, Fla.) and Emi Roberto (Trumbull, Conn.).

Following are full bios for each of the eight newcomers. 

Alani Gallagher

6-0 | Graduate | F | Vestal, N.Y. | Saint Leo University/Vestal HS

As a Senior (SLU): Was the SSC leader in blocked shots (4th – 1.3/g) following the 2020-21 season…Started in all six games in the Covid-19 shortened season…Finished the season with 53 points, four steals, eight blocks and nine assists…40.0% (22-55) field goal percentage…56.3% (9-15) from the free throw line…Recorded her season-high of 15 points and six rebounds at Barry (3/3).

As a Junior (SLU): Played the 2019-20 season at Saint Leo...Named All-SSC Defensive Player of the Year…All-SSC Second Team…SSC leader in blocked shots (3rd – 1.1/g), rebounding (4th- 8.4/g), field goal percentage (9th – 46.9%), scoring (10th – 13.7/g)…SSC Commissioner's Honor Roll...Started all 30 games…Scored 411 points, grabbed 252 rebounds, earned 33 blocks, 25 steals and 48 assists…Earned 10 double-doubles…Recorded her season-high 23 points at Clark Atlanta (11/14)…Recorded four blocked shots at Rollins (1/2)…Three-time SSC Defensive Player of the Week and one-time SSC Player of the Week.

As a Sophomore (SLU): Appeared in 28 games with 28 starts for the Lions in 2018-19…Played 794 minutes and scored 219 points with 147 rebounds, 29 assists, 25 blocks and 26 steals…Reached double-figures in eight games with a season-high of 18 points and four rebounds playing Nova Southeastern (12/8).

As a Freshman (SLU): Enrolled at Saint Leo University and competed as a true freshman with the Lions in 2018-18...Played in 28 games with 27 starts...Scored 257 points, grabbed 165 rebounds and tallied 16 blocks, 15 steals and 12 assists in 703 minutes on the season...Scored in double-figures in 13 games including a career-high 26 points against Johnson & Wales (12/12) on 10-of-16 shooting from the field with a 6-for-7 mark from the free throw line...Notched two double-doubles vs Palm Beach Atlantic with 14 points and 11 rebounds (1/20/18) and vs Embry-Riddle with 18 points and 11 rebounds (1/27)...Grabbed double-digit rebounds in three games with a career-high 12 boards against Shaw (12/17)...Helped guide Saint Leo to a 13-16 record and an 8-12 SSC record including a trip to the SSC tournament.

High School: Attended and played basketball at Vestal Senior High School for Joe Reynolds and Micky Greenberg…Three-time sectional title winner...Named top four in Class 'A'...Was a two-year team captain for the Golden Bears...Also played for BNY Select under coaches Rob Baxter, Reggie Hawkins and Mike Consintine.

Personal: Did community service at the Wesley Chapel Elementary and Middle School...Also volunteered at the Holy Name Monastery...Daughter of Chandra Gallagher…Has a brother, Donovan…Birthdate: 9/23/1999.

Sarah Jones

5-5 | Junior | G | Mason, Ohio | Embry-Riddle University/Lakota West HS

As a Sophomore (ERU): Returned to Embry-Riddle for the 2019-20 season...Earned Sunshine State Conference Honorable Mention recognition…named to the Sunshine State Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll…averaged a team-high 14.7 points per game…her 44.0 percent shooting clip was also a team best…led the SSC in total steals (65) and steals per game (2.41)…the Eagles' leader from the three-point (36.9%) and free throw (89.8%) lines…knocked down at least three three-pointers in 26 of her 27 starts…currently ranks fourth all-time at ERAU in made three-pointers (88)…garnered SSC Defensive Player of the Week honors on Feb. 10 after leading the Eagles to back-to-back league wins, averaging 11.5 points, 4.5 steals and 3.4 assists…scored a career-best 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the field and 4-of-8 from the beyond the arc…shot 50% (9-of-18) from the field and 50% (5-of-10) from long range en route to a 23-point performance against Catawba (Dec. 16)…was a perfect 5-for-5 in free throws in a 21-point night against Tampa (March 3)…had six-steal outings against Barry (Feb. 8) and Florida Tech (Feb. 15)…matched her career-high performance with seven against Rollins (Jan. 29).

As a Freshman (ERU): Began her collegiate career at Embry-Riddle, playing for the Eagles as a true freshman in 2018-19...Sunshine State Conference Freshman of the Year…averaged 11.7 points, 3.8 rebounds 1.1 assists and 1.4 steals in 29.2 minutes per contest…shot 73.7 percent from the free throw line, 44.4 percent from the field, and 36.8 percent from behind the arc…became the first freshman to score 20 points in her ERAU debut…came off the bench to total 20 points, six rebounds and two steals against Clark-Atlanta (Nov. 10)…in her first game wearing the Blue and Gold…earned SSC Player of the Week honors on Nov. 11…scored a season-high 21 points against Eckerd on Jan. 19 and against Rollins on Jan. 30…had a pair of seven-rebound games against Saint Leo (Jan. 5) and Barry (Feb. 6).

High School: Graduated from Lakota West High School in 2018…Four-year letterwinner in basketball...Earned first-team All-League honors after tallying 11.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.2 steals, and 1.7 assists in her junior campaign…Helped the Firebirds to state and district titles…Named a 2017 AP Southwest Ohio Honorable Mention selection…Recipient of Lakota West's Underclassman Award...Also played for Dayton Lady Hoopsters and Cincinnati Heat Premier under coach Matt Lykins...Helped team to second-place finish at nationals.

 

Personal: Member of honor roll...Volunteered with Hope for Kids, serving lunch bags to kids on streets with church...Also volunteered at Lakota West team camps...Also involved with Easter egg hunts through Solid Rock Church, where she helped put out the easter eggs into the grass and also worked register to sign guests in...Helped train kids in certain skill sets for basketball...Worked daycare in church...Helped clean kids daycare with ERU...Psychology major...Daughter of Brian and Jennifer...Has seven siblings...Birthdate: 9/4/1999.

Adeline Kent

5-7 | Freshman | G | Becker, Minn. | Becker HS

High School: Graduated from Becker High School...Was a three-time team captain who received 17 varsity letters...Played for coach Dan Baird...Named to all-state team for three years...Miss Basketball candidate...Helped Becker to state title...Set school record for most points in a single game...Also played for MN Stars and coach Matt Nelisen.

Personal: Recipient of Spotlight on Scholarship...Has volunteered coaching younger players...Undecided major...Daughter of Brandon and Julie Kent...Has four siblings, Josephine, Milan, Daisy and Harrison...Birthdate: 9/18/2003.

Sydney Kin

6-3 | Graduate | F/C | Carey, Ohio | University of Findlay/Carey HS

As a Senior (UF): Played for the fourth season at the University of Findlay in 2021-22...Appeared and started all 30 games...Named first-team all-Great Midwest Athletic Conference...Selected to G-MAC All-Defensive team... Averaged 17.3 points per game...Grabbed 9.3 rebounds per game...Averaged 1.3 blocks per game...Had 1.1 steals per contest...Grabbed season-high 16 rebounds against Cedarville (12/9)... Scored a season-high 30 points against Malone (2/1)...Ranks second in all-time scoring with 1,603 points.

As a Junior (UF): Appeared and started in 23 games...Named first-team all-Great Midwest Athletic Conference...Tied a school record by averaging 21.4 points per game, which led the conference...Scored in double figures in all but one game on the year...Had a season-high 31 points against Walsh on Jan. 10...Averaged 9.3 rebounds per game...Grabbed a career-high 19 rebounds against Ohio Dominican on Jan. 5...Had nine double-digit rebounding games...Averaged 1.3 blocks per game.

As a Sophomore (UF): Appeared in 30 games...Made 25 starts...Named first-team all-Great Midwest Athletic Conference...Was named G-MAC Player of the Week three times...Grabbed 8.3 rebounds per game...Scored 16.4 points per game...Shot 56% from the floor...Led the conference in free throw percentage at 83.4%...Had 1.3 blocks per game...Scored season/career-high 33 points against Urbana on Dec. 17...Grabbed season/career-high 18 rebounds vs Walsh on Feb. 1.

As a Freshman (UF): Appeared in 26 games...Scored 3.8 points per game...Grabbed 2.9 rebounds per game...Scored season-high 11 points on Nov. 6 vs Ohio Wesleyan...Had season-high nine rebounds on Dec. 13 vs Ursuline...Had team-best four blocks on Dec. 15 vs Lake Erie.

High School: Graduated from Carey High School...Named all-Ohio twice...Was a two-time all-district pick...Named all-Northwest Ohio...Voted all-District 6...Finished her career ranked second in school history with 1,467 points...Ranks first all-time at Carey in rebounds (962) and blocked shots (285).

Audra Leipold

5-8 | Graduate | G | Seffner, Fla. | Samford University/Seffner Christian Academy

As a Junior (SU): Played in 14 games in 2021-22 with Samford...Started four games for the Bulldogs...Averaged 4.7 points per game, shooting 43.9 percent from the field...Also had 20 assists and eight steals...Scored a season-best 10 points in three games.

As a Sophomore (SU): Played the 2020-21 season at Samford, helping guide the Bulldogs to their second consecutive Southern Conference Regular Season Championship with an 11-2 record...Played in 24 games, making three starts at guard...Averaged 4.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game in 15.8 minutes on the floor...Shot 40.2 percent (43-of-107) from the floor...Scored a career-best 23 points versus Birmingham Southern on Jan. 4, 2021.

As a Freshman (SU): Saw action in nine games in the 2019-20 season at Samford…Shot 36.4 percent from the field…Scored in games against Alabama State and Florida.

 

High School: Attended Seffner Christian Academy...Played for coach Joe Cooper...Scored 2,754 career high school points…Dished out 762 career assists…Named all-state first team for two seasons…Hillsborough County Senior Game MVP…Won five District Championships...Also played for Tampa Thunder and Team Dupree under coach Jarrett Harvey.

Personal: Sports administration major...Daughter of Erich and Beth Leipold...Has one sibling, Dawson...Birthdate: 7/30/2000.

Neri Moreau

5-1 | Freshman | G | St. Cloud, Fla. | Gateway HS

High School: Graduated from Gateway High School, playing for coach Justin Marino...Four-time all-OBC selection...Honored by local newspaper as athlete of the year...Also played for Candice Dupree - Team Richardson under coach Justice Thigpen.

Personal: Recipient of high honors at Gateway High School...Volunteered tutoring freshmen in math and science...Nursing major...Full name is Nerishlyan Moreau...Born in Naguabo, Puerto Rico...Daughter of Betsy Ruiz...Has two siblings, Ren and Isyaan...Birthdate: 10/5/2004.

Emi Roberto

5-11 | Freshman | G | Trumbull, Conn. | Trumbull HS

High School: Attended Trumbull High School...Received five letters. Team captain for the Eagles in 2021-22...Named all-conference sophomore and junior year...Received all-state Honors...Selected for all-star summer league team...Also played for CT Supreme Elite under coach Kwame Burrell...Selected for the US Junior Nationals All-Tournament Team...Leading scorer averaging 14 ppg...Ranked 17th overall in New England for Class of 2022...Ranked second for shooting guards in New England for Class of '22.

Personal: Member of the National Honor Society...Walked for ALS and Alzheimer's...Worked basketball clinics...Coached basketball teams for elementary-aged players...Volunteers for wildlife rehab in Costa Rica...Helped Full Court Peace rehab courts in inner cities...Volunteered in soup kitchen for the homeless...Daughter of Scott and Kimberlee Roberto...Has two older siblings, Ryan and Julia...Father played basketball at UConn...Full name is Emilia Roberto...Birthdate: 10/31/2003.

Bella Steidle

5-10 | Junior | G Mullica Hill, N.J. | Loyola University/Clearview Regional HS

As a Sophomore (LUM): Returned to Loyola Maryland, where she saw action in 14 games...Had a season-high seven points against Lafayette (2/16), also grabbing two rebounds.

As a Freshman (LUM): Enrolled as a freshman for the 2020-21 season at Loyola University Maryland...Made six appearances in her debut collegiate season, playing a total of 24 minutes on the year…Grabbed two rebounds in eight minutes in Loyola's season opener at Bucknell (1/2)…Played a season-high 13 minutes in the regular season finale against Lafayette (2/28), hitting her first 3-point attempt and totaling four points overall.

High School: Attended Clearview Regional High School...Also played AAU basketball for the Philadelphia Belles Breanna Stewart team, where she led the squad in both overall scoring and 3-pointers made across four seasons…Honored as a McDonald's All-American nominee in 2020…Four-year varsity letterwinner in high school, contributing to three conference championships…First-team all-conference and first-team All-South Jersey as a junior…First team all-conference and first-team All-South Jersey Group IV as a senior…Three-year starter and a two-time member of the South Jersey Invitational All-Tournament team…Led team to its first-ever South Jersey Invitational Championship game…Totaled 1,271 points, 195 made 3-pointers, and 588 rebounds in her high school career…Leading scorer, captain and team MVP in each of her final two seasons…Recorded 21 double-doubles across final two years…Chosen as 2020 Conference Player of the Year…Member of the North-South All-Star and Al Carino All-Star teams in 2020…Two-time Atkinson Christmas Tournament MVP, leading team to championships both years…U.S. Junior National All-Tournament Team performer in AAU, winning multiple junior national championships…Spent first two high school seasons at Gloucester Catholic…Also a two-year letterwinner in lacrosse.

Personal: Member of honor roll...Psychology major, minoring in communications...Daughter of Michael and April Steidle…Has two siblings, Emma and JD…Mother was a member of Loyola's women's basketball program from 1990-94...Birthdate: 7/17/2002.

Original source can be found here.