Women's Basketball announces two early signees
Joplin, Mo. -- Missouri Southern women's basketball coach Maryann Mitts has announced the signing of Kori Dodson and Kristen Hanna to national letters of intent to play basketball and attend Southern beginning in the fall of 2012.
Dodson is a 5-7 guard out of Liberal High School that played for coach Brandi Goodell and the Bulldogs. Dodson has been a four-year starter at the varsity level in three different sports, also standing out on the volleyball court and as a sprinter for the track team.
Entering her senior season at Liberal, Dodson has been a three-time first-team All-Spring River Valley Conference selection, as well as being a two-time first-team All-District selection, including being named the SRVC Player of the Year last season as a junior. She hit the 1,000 point plateau as a junior and helped Liberal to a conference championship last year and a runner-up finish in the District Tournament.
On the Volleyball court, Dodson was a three-time first-team All-Conference pick, a two-time first-team All-District selection, while also being named All-Region and All-State. This past year, the Bulldogs finished third in the MSHSSA Class One State Tournament. A standout on the track, as well, Dodson placed at the state meet in the 100m and the 4x400m and holds the Liberal High School record for the high jump, as well as being on the record-breaking 4x100 and 4x200m relay teams. The daughter of Daryl and Gina (MSSU Alum) Dodson, Kori plans to major in math education at Southern.
"Plain and simply, Kori Dodson is a winner," Mitts said! "She is a hard-nosed competitor and plays the game with a tremendous amount of intensity. Kori will be looked upon to fill the point guard position as Larrita Gipson finishes out her eligibiltiy this season. She is the epitome of excellence in the classroom as well. We feel as though we are getting the "complete package" with Kori and look forward to coaching her energy on the floor."
Hanna is a 5-10 guard/forward combo from St. Louis where she played for coach Craig Gregory at Pattonville High School. A four- year starter on the basketball court for the Pirates, Hanna also was a four-year varsity starter on the softball team.
She was an All-Conference selection in both 2009-10 and 2010-11, as well as being named to the Rockwood Summit Holiday All-Tournament team last year. She helped her team to District Titles in 2008-09 and 2009-10, as well as the Rockwood Summit Holiday Tournament Championship last year.
On the softball field, Hanna was a first-team All-Conference pick in each of the last two seasons, and helped to lead the Pirates to a district championship in 2010. The daughter of Chad and Stacia Hanna, Kristen plans to major in communications at Southern. Her father played football at Jackson State and her brother (Colin) is a junior linebacker at Central Missouri.
"Kristen comes from an amazingly athletic family," Mitts said. "She is a versatile athlete who will be able to provide many strengths at multiple positions. An outstanding student as well, we are excited about Kristen's basketball IQ and all the intangibles she possesses. Kristen is a hard worker who will improve quickly as she becomes accustomed to the collegiate weight room and conditioning program. She will play the power forward position, and as her outside shot develops, she will be able to provide depth at the guard positions as well."
