The University of Akron Athletics
Clarke Added to Akron Women's Basketball Signing Class
April 27 | Women's Basketball
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron women's basketball squad under the leadership of first-year head coach Ryan Gensler, has added Teniesha Clarke (Burlington, Ontario) to the squad's signing class for the 2023-24 campaign.
A native of Burlington, Ontario, Clarke, a 5-9 guard comes to Akron from Niagara Prep in Niagara Falls, Ontario where she averaged 19.0 points per game as a senior. She helped her squad to a runner-up finish in the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association en route to being named a Biosteel All-Canadian selection this past season.
Gensler on Clarke – "I am thrilled to welcome Teniesha Clarke to the Akron Women's basketball family. Teniesha brings an incredible work ethic that has seen her grow into a strong three-level scorer at Niagara Prep and with Kia Nurse Elite EYBL. She is a well-rounded student who will thrive in the classroom and in the Akron community."
Clarke joins a talented signing class that includes Lanae Riley (Akron, Ohio), Liisa Taponen (Tampere, Finland) and Kaia Woods (Tiffin, Ohio), who joined the squad in April, as well as Olivia Brown (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern), Leila Jones (Westerville, Ohio/Westerville South) and Dacia Lewandowski (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Catholic), who signed National Letters of Intent with the Zips this past November.
The six newcomers will bolster an Akron roster that is set to return first-team All-Mid-American Conference junior F Reagan Bass (Strongsville, Ohio), as well as junior G Zakia Rasheed (Avon, Ind.) senior G Alexis Stewart (Hamilton, Ontario), senior G Tahmala Thorpe (Mississauga, Ontario) and sophomore F Annie Watson (Akron, Ohio).
2023-24 Akron Women's Basketball Signing Class (as of April 27, 2023)
Olivia Brown, G, 6-1, Fishers, Ind. (Hamilton Southeastern)
Teniesha Clarke, G, 5-9, Burlington, Ontario (AN Meyer Secondary | Niagara Prep)
Leila Jones, G/F, 5-10, Westerville, Ohio (Westerville South)
Dacia Lewandowski, G, 5-11, Pittsburgh, Pa. (North Catholic)
Lanae Riley, 6-2, F, Akron, Ohio (Archbishop Hoban/Middle Tennessee State)
Liisa Taponen, 6-5, C, Tampere, Finland (Mäkelänrinteen Upper Secondary School/Illinois)
Kaia Woods, 5-3, G, Tiffin, Ohio (Royal Crown Academy/Washington State)
A native of Burlington, Ontario, Clarke, a 5-9 guard comes to Akron from Niagara Prep in Niagara Falls, Ontario where she averaged 19.0 points per game as a senior. She helped her squad to a runner-up finish in the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association en route to being named a Biosteel All-Canadian selection this past season.
Gensler on Clarke – "I am thrilled to welcome Teniesha Clarke to the Akron Women's basketball family. Teniesha brings an incredible work ethic that has seen her grow into a strong three-level scorer at Niagara Prep and with Kia Nurse Elite EYBL. She is a well-rounded student who will thrive in the classroom and in the Akron community."
Clarke joins a talented signing class that includes Lanae Riley (Akron, Ohio), Liisa Taponen (Tampere, Finland) and Kaia Woods (Tiffin, Ohio), who joined the squad in April, as well as Olivia Brown (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern), Leila Jones (Westerville, Ohio/Westerville South) and Dacia Lewandowski (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Catholic), who signed National Letters of Intent with the Zips this past November.
The six newcomers will bolster an Akron roster that is set to return first-team All-Mid-American Conference junior F Reagan Bass (Strongsville, Ohio), as well as junior G Zakia Rasheed (Avon, Ind.) senior G Alexis Stewart (Hamilton, Ontario), senior G Tahmala Thorpe (Mississauga, Ontario) and sophomore F Annie Watson (Akron, Ohio).
2023-24 Akron Women's Basketball Signing Class (as of April 27, 2023)
Olivia Brown, G, 6-1, Fishers, Ind. (Hamilton Southeastern)
Teniesha Clarke, G, 5-9, Burlington, Ontario (AN Meyer Secondary | Niagara Prep)
Leila Jones, G/F, 5-10, Westerville, Ohio (Westerville South)
Dacia Lewandowski, G, 5-11, Pittsburgh, Pa. (North Catholic)
Lanae Riley, 6-2, F, Akron, Ohio (Archbishop Hoban/Middle Tennessee State)
Liisa Taponen, 6-5, C, Tampere, Finland (Mäkelänrinteen Upper Secondary School/Illinois)
Kaia Woods, 5-3, G, Tiffin, Ohio (Royal Crown Academy/Washington State)
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