TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Five fresh faces will join the Indiana State Women's Basketball roster for the 2016-17 season. Freshmen Gabi Baldridge, Ashli O'Neal, McKenzy Telfair, Maryam Wilcher and junior Wendi Bibbins will suit up in blue come this November. Get to know a little bit more about the five new faces and how June workouts are going.
#5 | Gabi Baldridge
6'3” |FR| F | Willard, Ohio (Willard)
A Willard, Ohio native, Baldridge was an All-District 6 Coaches Association team and a first-team conference selection. She scored over 600 points in her high school career and pulled down 561 total rebounds.
Why did you pick your jersey number? I picked No. 5 because my older brother had it in high school and that's always been my jersey number too.
How are summer workouts going? They are very intense but they are making me better so I love it.
What's been your favorite thing about Indiana State so far? My team. I love my team.
What are you looking forward to the most about coming back in the fall/preseason? Meeting new people all across campus.
What's one interesting thing about you? I love to go 4-wheeling because I'm from the country.
#3 | Ashli O'Neal
5'5” |FR| G| Wyoming, Ohio (Wyoming)
A spring signee for the Sycamores, O'Neal arrives in Terre Haute as the two-time Cincinnati Hills League Player of the Year at Wyoming High School in Wyoming, Ohio. She scored over 1,000 career points at Wyoming and averaged 23.2 points last year as a senior.
Why did you pick your jersey number? I've had No. 3 since I started playing basketball.
How are summer workouts going? They are hard – harder than high school – but it's been fun.
What's been your favorite thing about Indiana State so far? I would have to say the food.
What are you looking forward to the most about coming back in the fall/preseason? I'm looking forward to coming back and being with my teammates and getting ready for my freshman season.
What's one interesting thing about you? I clean my ears every day.
#20 | McKenzy Telfair
5'11” | FR | G | Indianapolis, Ind. (Cardinal Ritter)
Originally signing with the Sycamores in Fall 2014, Telfair committed herself to academics in the 2015-16 season. At Cardinal Ritter, Telfair averaged 11.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.9 blocks as a junior and earned all-city and all-conference honors.
Why did you pick your jersey number? I picked 20 because it was the number I've had since I was young and I wanted to stick with it because it's my lucky number.
How are summer workouts going? They are very competitive and I definitely feel like I'm getting stronger in the weight room. I'm getting closer to my teammates and that's been really nice.
What's been your favorite thing about Indiana State so far? My favorite part about being at Indiana State is being so close to home and being able to go back and forth to home (in Indianapolis).
What are you looking forward to the most about coming back in the fall/preseason? I'm looking forward for us as a team to continue to bond with one another and for us to earn each other's trust.
What's one interesting thing about you? I can do the splits.
#4 | Maryam Wilcher
6'0” | FR | G | Berwyn, Ill. (Morton West)
The Chicago Tribune All-State selection average 22.6 points at Morton West High School in the suburbs of Chicago in her senior season. She scored over 1,000 career points and was an all-conference selection for the Mustangs.
Why did you pick your jersey number? I've actually never had No. 4 before but someone else had my usual number so I just thought that it would be good for a change.
How are summer workouts going? They are hard and different from what I experienced in high school. But they are good and I'm glad to be learning new things.
What's been your favorite thing about Indiana State so far? Getting closer to my teammates and having fun and laughing with them.
What are you looking forward to the most about coming back in the fall/preseason? I'm looking forward to putting in more hard work and meeting people in my classes.
What's one interesting thing about you? I really love to sing and rap.
#23 | Wendi Bibbins
6'2” | JR | F |Harvey, La. (Jones County CC)
Bibbins, who was the third-ranked junior college player in the nation by Dan Olson of girlsbasketballreport.com, joins ISU after averaging 12.8 points and 10.7 rebounds per game at Jones County Community College last season.
Why did you pick your jersey number? My mom was No. 23 when she played and wanted to represent her.
How are summer workouts going? They are awesome. I've never been pushed as hard as this before.
What's been your favorite thing about Indiana State so far? The campus is beautiful. I'm from New Orleans so it's different but I like it.
What are you looking forward to the most about coming back in the fall/preseason? Just getting ready for my first season with my new teammates.
What's one interesting thing about you? I've tried to play every sport possible (except for football).
For the latest information on the Sycamore Women's Basketball team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
