The Maryville University women's basketball team announced its incoming class for fall 2021. The Saints have added five newcomers. Joining Maryville are:  Jenna Cotter (Lockport, Ill. / Lockport Township / IUPUI); Faith Hawthorne (Shawnee, Kan. / St. James Academy); Haidyn Pitsch (Prior Lake, Minn. / Prior Lake / Dakota Wesleyan); Abby Weis (Effingham, Ill. / Effingham / Lakeland J.C.); and Kalina Winslow (Pleasant Prairie, Wis. / Indian Trail).
 
"We are excited to welcome these young women to our women's basketball program and to Maryville University," Saints head coach Collin Lanam said. "This is a talented group that brings an edge on the court and has proven prior successes and accolades. We are returning an amazing group, and these five additions will do what it takes to help take our program to the next level."
 
Cotter is a sophomore 6-3 center transfer from Division I IUPUI who appeared in four games for the Jaguars last season. She was named to the IUPUI Fall Academic Advisor's List. During her time at Lockport Township, she was a Joliet Herald All-Area selection and All-Area honorable mention choice by 22nd Century Media.
 
Hawthorne is a 6-1 post who averaged 9.8 points and 6.0 rebounds as a senior at St. James Academy. She also shot 43.8 percent from 3-point range. She was an SIK 5A All-State second team selection as well as a second-team All-EKL honoree. Hawthorne was chosen for the Kansas All-Star Team and was the No. 5 overall high school prospect in Kansas as selected by Prep Girls Hoops. 
 
Pitsch is a 5-5 sophomore guard who comes to Maryville from Dakota Wesleyan University. As a freshman at DWU last season, she put up 14.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists. Pitsch was one of the deep threats for the team and shot 35.7 percent from 3-point range and 79.2 percent at the free-throw line. She was the Great Plains Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year and first-team All-GPAC. At Prior Lake High School, she was a 1,000-point scorer, and a two-time All-Conference honoree. She helped lead her team to the sectional championship.
 
Weis is a 5-7 junior guard who helped lead Lake Land College to the 2021 NJCAA Division II National Championship. She was an All-Region team selection both her freshman and sophomore seasons with the Lakers. Weis averaged 11.6 points overall, including 18 points in conference play, and three rebounds while shooting 46 percent from the field and 83 percent at the free-throw line.
 
Winslow is a 5-8 guard who averaged 11.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.2 steals as a senior. She led Indian Trail in scoring for three straight seasons. She was a first-team All-Conference her final year after earning second-team All-Conference honors as a junior. Winslow was a two-time first-team All-County selection. She was chosen for the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Senior All-Star game.