Bismarck, N.D.—University of Mary Head Women's Basketball Coach Rick Neumann announced the commitments of Alliya Pinckney and Shauneil Schwartz.
 
The latest signings bring U-Mary's 2013-14 recruiting class to nine. Pinckney and Schwartz join Taylor Henningsgard (Buxton, ND), Ashlee Harper (Etiwanda, CA), Hannah Larson (Bismarck, ND), Anna Schmelzer (Baraboo, WI), Sloan Turner (Huntington Beach, CA), Danielle Williams (Gillette, WY) and Sheyenne Williams (Rancho Cucamonga, CA), who have already committed to play for the Marauders next season.
 
U-Mary secured the second seed in the Northern Sun North Division last season and advanced to the second round of the NSIC Tournament.
 
Alliya Pinckney (G, 5-4, San Diego, CA / Mt. Carmel HS / Palomar CC)
 
A two-year starter at Palomar Community College under the direction of Head Coach Leigh Marshall, Pinckney led the Comets to the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference championship in 2012-13. Pinckney was named team captain and PCAC MVP as a sophomore. A 5-4 guard, Pinckney averaged 11 points and 4.1 assists in conference play this past season and was named second team all-state.
 
While at Palomar, Pinckney was named to the PCAC All-Academic Team. The daughter of Alana Hurt, Pinckney is planning on pursuing a degree in mathematics at U-Mary.
 
Here's what Coach Neumann had to say about Pinckney:
 
"Alliya allows us to continue our up tempo style of play on both ends of the floor. She is extremely fast with the basketball and has a great ability to get into the lane and make plays. She is a lockdown defender on the perimeter and can really pressure the basketball. Alliya comes to U-Mary from a highly successful program at Palomar Community College and a great coach in Leigh Marshall. We expect Alliya to come in and contribute immediately."
 
Shauni Schwartz (F, 5-10, Herreid, SD / Herreid HS)
 
A highly accomplished prep athlete, Schwartz was named first team all-state as senior at Herried High School. A five-year member of the varsity team under father Roy Dean Schwartz, Shauneil amassed 1,434 career points and 794 career rebounds. The 5-10 forward averaged 17.4 points, 9 rebounds, 3.9 blocks, 3.5 steals and 2.6 assists as a senior. A well-rounded athlete, Schwartz was all-state as a senior in golf, and twice named all-state in volleyball.
 
Maintaining a perfect 4.0 grade point average, Schwartz was three-times named class president and was named all-state student council in 2013. The daughter of Roy and Danette Schwartz, Shauneil plans to study respiratory therapy at U-Mary.
 
Here's what Coach Neumann had to say about Schwartz:
 
"Shauni was an all-state player in South Dakota and had a very decorated high school career. We feel her best basketball is ahead of her and in time we think she can contribute to our program. She has good length at 5-10 and as she develops her ball-handling and shooting skills we think she can transition to a perimeter player in college. We are extremely happy Shauni is joining our program."
 
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