Piper Inks Two NLIs for 2009-10 Central Connecticut Women's Basketball Season

Central Connecticut women's basketball head coach Beryl Piper announced two National Letter of Intent signings for the 2009-10 season. Piper and the Blue Devils will welcome a pair of post players in Kirsten Daamen and Jameilia Dillon to New Britain. Daamen is a 6-3 center from Merrimac, MA who plays at Pentucket Regional High. Dillon, meanwhile, is a 6-1 forward who hails from Pawtucket, RI and plays at the LaSalle Academy.

Listen to Piper discuss the pair in her Nov. 26 edition of In the Paint

"It is really exciting for us to announce the addition of these two players," Piper said. "Both Kirsten and Jameilia will offer us a stronger post presence next season. Combined with Justina (Udenze) and Verree (Harris), Kirsten and Jameilia are going to give our team many more options in our offense.

"Both players have improved tremendously over the past year, and I anticipate they will continue to improve this season," Piper added. "They are great kids who are constantly striving to reach high levels of success both on and off the court."

Daamen averaged over 11.1 points, 9.0 rebounds and 4.7 blocks as a junior, helping lead Pentucket Regional to its second straight North Sectional championship. She is a two-time All-Cape Ann League selection, the 2006-07 Daily News Co-Player of the Year and a 2007-08 Lawrence Eagle Tribune Dream Team honoree.

"Kirsten is a true center who has been coached extremely well," Piper said. "She can shoot from 12 to 15 feet, and her passing skills impress me a lot. She is going to add a high-low dimension to our team."

Dillon is a basketball and volleyball standout at La Salle. She has helped lead the Rams to two state championships in both sports. An All-State, all-class and all-division basketball player, Dillon also earned all-division honors in volleyball.

"Jameilia is a powerful player with the ability to put the ball on the floor and shoot from the 12-15 -foot range," Piper said. "She will be able to play either the four or the five for us, giving us a multitude of options with the lineup."

Central Connecticut is currently 3-4 this season. The Blue Devils open conference play on Saturday, Dec. 6, when Mount St. Mary's comes to New Britain for a 4 p.m. contest.