Albany, N.Y. ? University at Albany women's basketball coach Trina Patterson announced on Thursday, May 31 that four student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to play for the Great Danes in the 2007-08 academic year. Kim Clements, a 5-foot-10 guard/forward from Waterbury, Conn. (Holy Cross H.S.), Amira Ford, a 5-foot-5 guard from Friendswood, Texas (Clear Brook H.S. / Blinn Junior College), Felicia Johnson, a 5-foot-4 guard from Newport News, Va. (Woodside H.S.) and Tiffanie Johnson, a 5-foot-11 forward from Richmond, Texas (Crockett H.S. / Panola College) have each made their commitment.
“(Amira) Ford and (Felicia) Johnson bring lightning speed to our team at the point guard position,” UAlbany coach Trina Patterson said. “It was a high-need position for our program and they will both play immediately. (Kim) Clements and (Tiffanie) Johnson are small forwards who are solid three-point shooters and very good weakside rebounders. This is a highly-talented group that improves our offensive punch with their scoring ability.”
Clements led her team to the CHSCA Class M state championship, the first title in the program's history, with a perfect 26-0 record. She was named to the New Haven Register all-state second team and was an honorable mention selection by the Hartford Courant. Clements, who totaled 15.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game, has been chosen to play in the CHSCA East-West All-Star Game. A consensus all-state second-team performer as a junior, Clements was named the Naugatuck Valley League Tournament MVP.
Ford was a starter on two Blinn Junior College squads that posted a pair of 20-win campaigns. She averaged 5.3 points, 5.6 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals in earning honorable mention All-Region XIV recognition. The Lady Buccaneers made the regional tournament finals with a 22-11 record. Ford, who is originally from Long Island, ranked 15th nationally and third regionally in assists per game. As a high school player, Ford was voted the district defensive player of the year and to the all-district first team.
Felicia Johnson was named to the Hampton Roads Daily Press second team and Peninsula all-district first team as a senior. She averaged 15.0 points, 5.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 5.0 steals. Johnson, who is from the same hometown as Coach Patterson, led the Wolverines to a 20-6 record and an appearance in the Eastern Region playoffs. She has been chosen to participate in the Virginia High School Coaches Association East-West All-Star Game.
A transfer from Panola College in Texas, Tiffanie Johnson contributed 7.6 points and 3.1 rebounds, plus made 40 three-point field goals last season. The Fillies finished with a 21-10 record. Johnson, who played in four games as a freshman at New Mexico State in 2005-06, was the District 21-Class 3A MVP at Crockett (Texas) High School. She averaged 15.0 points, 5.0 assists and 5.0 rebounds in leading the Bulldogs to a 29-5 record. Johnson earned second-team all-region and first-team all-district honors as a senior.
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2007-08 University at Albany Women's Basketball Signings
Name Pos. Ht. Hometown (High School/Junior College)
Kim Clements G/F 5-10 Waterbury, Conn. (Holy Cross)
Amira Ford G 5-5 Friendswood, Texas (Clear Brook / Blinn Junior College)
Felicia Johnson G 5-4 Newport News, Va. (Woodside)
Tiffanie Johnson F 5-11 Richmond, Texas (Crockett / Panola College)
