Southern Women's Basketball Announces Signing of D-II Transfer

Joplin, Mo. - Missouri Southern's head women's basketball coach Maryann Mitts announced the signing of Garland, Texas native Jessica Bell.  Bell comes to the Lions program after playing a year at Texas Woman's University in Denton.

In her only year of play at TWU, Bell played in 26 games, starting 14 for the Pioneers.  She averaged 18.8 minutes per game while scoring 8.5 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.  Bell also shot 37.4 percent (71-for-190) from the field, including 36.0 percent (36-of-100) from three-point range.

In high school, Bell averaged 18.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, four blocks, and two steals per game in four years (2004-2008) of varsity competition for the Garland (Texas) Owls.  As a freshman, she was named as the GHS team MVP and picked for the 2005 All-District 10-5A second team.  Following her sophomore season, she earned 2006 All-District 10-5A first team honors and was selected as the GHS Offensive Player of the Year.  In 2007, as a junior, she repeated on the All-District 10-5A first team and again grabbed the GHS team MVP award.  In her 2008 senior season, she was chosen for her third-straight All-District 10-5A first team.

"Signing Jessica adds another player to our power forward/post position," Mitts said.  "She is a scorer!  Having the ability to play with her back to the basket, shooting a high percentage from the three point line and having the capability to put the ball on the floor, Jessica a very versatile offensive player.  We look for her to contribute immediately."