May 7, 2003

Chicago, Ill. - University of Illinois at Chicago head women's basketball coach Lisa Ryckbosch announced on Wednesday afternoon, that she has signed Kodak/WBCA All-American Dejeanette Flournoy (Chicago, Ill./Washington/Casper CC) to a National Letter of Intent to play for the Flames in the upcoming 2003-04 campaign.

"Dejeanette is someone that I have followed for a number of years," Ryckbosch said. "I felt that what we are trying to do, where we are located and the opportunity she was looking for, that we were a great match for each other."

Flournoy chose UIC over Illinois, Ohio, Rutgers and Washington State.

Flournoy, a graduate of Washington High School, averaged 17.8 points per contest and was third in the NJCAA with 14.5 boards a game for the Casper CC (WY) T-Birds last season. She was ninth in the country with a field-goal percentage of 60.3.

"Dejeanette is going to bring an inside presence both from a scoring and rebounding perspective," Ryckbosch said. "She's as good of a rebounder than anyone I've ever been around."

Flournoy led Region IX in rebounding, was fifth in scoring and was eighth in blocks (1.2 bpg).

Following the campaign, Flournoy was named to the All-Region IX team, All-Region IX tournament team and was rewarded with a spot on the Kodak/WBCA All-American squad.

Flournoy joins five other players in the Flames' 2004 recruiting class, including incoming freshmen Kelsey Duoss (Janesville, Wis./Clinton), LaShonda Grant (Chicago, Ill./Marshall), Krystal Hugelier (Elmhurst, Ill./York), Kelly True (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville) and junior college transfer Amber Washington (Columbia, S.C./Pensacola CC).

"I'm very excited about this incoming class with their talent, potential, character and competitiveness." Ryckbosch said. "We have all the ingredients in this class to begin to do what we have come here to do."