Nov. 9, 2005

Saint Louis University head women's basketball coach Shimmy Gray today announced that Theresa Lisch (Belleville, Ill. / Althoff), Maggie Hennegan (Cincinnati, Ohio / St. Ursula) and Katie Paganelli (Cincinnati, Ohio / Mount Notre Dame) have signed National Letters of Intent to attend the University and play basketball for the Billikens. All three will have four years of eligibility beginning with the 2006-07 season.

Lisch is a 5-9 guard for Althoff High School. As a junior, she was the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Girls Basketball Player of the Year. The Belleville News-Democrat selected her the Class A State Player of the Year. Lisch averaged 22.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 4.1 steals per game. In addition, she ranked sixth in the metro area in 3-pointers made per game (2.4) and shot 39 percent from beyond the arc and 75 percent from the free-throw line. She was named to the first-team Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Class A All-State team and was runnerup for Miss Illinois Basketball. Lisch helped the Crusaders to a 25-5 record and a third-place finish in the 2005 Illinois High School Association Class A state tournament. Her brother, Kevin, is a freshman on the Billiken men's basketball team.

"I haven't stopped smiling since the day Theresa Lisch verbally committed," Gray said. "She brings the athleticism that we desperately need, and she can play multiple positions. Theresa is great with the ball in her hands, but she also can play either of the off-guard positions. Theresa is never satisfied and that only motivates her to work even harder on her game. For as many accolades as she has received, she might be the most humble athlete I've ever recruited. She is a team player and an outstanding young lady.

Hennegan is a 6-0 guard/forward for St. Ursula. As a junior, she averaged 16.5 points and 6.5 rebounds a game. Hennegan shot 49 percent from the field, 75 percent from the free-throw line and 33 percent from the 3-point arc. She was a first-team All-GGGCL choice as a sophomore and a junior and was first-team All-City. She was an All-District second team choice and second-team All-Ohio.

"Maggie immediately provides us with much needed depth inside, although her athleticism and versatility will allow her to move out to the wing as she develops," Gray said. "Maggie is athletic and can score and rebound. I have never seen a player love to play defense the way Maggie does. She is the perfect combination of talent and work ethic, which means the sky is the limit for her potential as a player. She's also a competitor in the classroom, and her discipline in that area carries over onto the court."

Paganelli is a 5-9 shooting guard. She transferred from McAuley High School to Mount Notre Dame but did not play as a junior due to transfer regulations. As a sophomore at McAuley, Paganelli averaged 13.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.3 steals. She was a Cincinnati Enquirer first-team All-City selection and a first-team All-GGGCL choice. This year, she is listed as a preseason Ohio Girls Basketball Report Top 25 player. Paganelli's AAU team, the Cincinnati North Gold, won the 2003 U-15 girls basketball USJN national championship. "Katie brings the toughness and killer instinct that I want to be the epitome of Billiken women's basketball," Gray said. "She is a fierce competitor who wants to take the big shot and will usually make it. She has deep 3-point range and can also play the point, which makes her perfect for our system. The first time I watched her play, I knew we had to sign her."

"I could not have scripted a more perfect first recruiting class," Gray said. "I want to commend my recruiting coordinators, Marlene Stollings and Tony Francis, for doing an outstanding job and really putting in the work to secure a great first class for us. We addressed major needs with all three of our signees. We have three student-athletes who can score, handle the ball and flat out play while raising the intensity level and competitiveness of our team.

"Theresa Lisch, Maggie Hennegan and Katie Paganelli will all immediately compete for playing time and will contribute instantly," Gray said. "Not only can these three kids play but every single one of them excels in the classroom, as well. This is the future of Saint Louis women's basketball. Billiken fans are going to fall in love with these three talented student-athletes in the years to come."