CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Adding playmakers and athleticism to its roster, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi women's basketball program announced the signings of Bruna Anguera, Justis Odom, Alexandra "Sasha" Shishkina, Jaeda Whitner and Deja Williams.
All five will be eligible for the 2022-23 season. The group consists of three guards and two centers.
Anguera is a 6-2 center from El Morell, Spain. She played for UEM-Femení Maresme which is in the highest level of Spanish amateur basketball. She averaged 6.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game while shooting .473 from the floor.
Anguera played for the Tarragona Select team for four years. Then at the age of 16 played in the highest club league in Spain. She'll arrive at A&M-Corpus Christi as a true freshman and will have four years of eligibility remaining.
"Bruna has played at the highest level of international basketball. She is focused toward becoming a great player. Once she adjusts to the physicality of the Division I game the sky is the limit for her," said head coach
Royce Chadwick.
An incoming anchor in the paint will be Odom from Indianapolis, Indiana. The 6-2 transfer comes to The Island University after spending the last two seasons at Garden City College.
Odom was ranked the second-best post player and the No. 16 player in the nation overall by Dan Olson from Collegiate Girls Basketball Report. She was able to collect 120 rebounds and 25 blocks and 17 steals for the season in 2021-22.
"Justis is long and athletic. She has a tremendous touch around the basket and her presence in the paint will be a difference maker in the Southland Conference. The scouting service lists her as the number two post player in junior college in the nation," said Chadwick.
Shishkina is a 5-8 guard from Moscow, Russia. She will have two years remaining after transferring from Georgia Highlands College.
Shishkina helped lead the Chargers to the national tournament championship game. She scored 22 points in the finals and shot 8-of-10 from the floor and 4-of-5 from three. On the year, she shot .440 from the field and .370 from long-range.
Shishkina averaged 13.7 points per game at Georgia Highlands. She was ranked 14th in the country in three-point shooting after making 83-of-220.
"Sasha is a competitor. Her primary strength is her three-point shot and her release is lightning quick. She has so many dimensions to her game as she is deceptively strong, a good rebounder and can attack the rim. I believe she is a missing ingredient for this team," said Chadwick.
Whitner is a 5-5 guard from Mason City, Iowa. She'll have three years of eligibility remaining after playing at Iowa Lakes CC.
Whitner averaged 16 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds and 4 steals while shooting .333 from the three-point line last season. She earned All-Region honors and led her team from the point guard position.
"Jaeda has all the tools to contribute right away. She can shoot the three, attack the rim and quarterback a team. She averaged over five assists per game and her three-point shot is her number one asset," said Chadwick.
Williams is a 5-7 guard from Manvel, Texas. She transfers from Eastern Oklahoma College where she played the last two seasons where she averaged 15.4 points per game and shot .349 from beyond-the-arc.
Williams collected over three assists and three steals per game and recorded a positive assist:turnover ratio in her career. She was named to the All-Region First-Team and was an NCJAA All-America Honorable Mention as a freshman.
"Deja is a combo guard with collegiate experience. She can run the point or play shooting guard with ease. Her defensive prowess will be a welcome addition to our program as she led her league in steals. She is the total package," said Chadwick.
Signee Roster
Bruna Anguera – 6-2, Freshman, Center, El Morell, Spain/IES Llavaneres
Justis Odom – 6-2, Junior, Center, Indianapolis, Ind./Garden City College/Lawrence North HS
Alexandra "Sasha" Shishkina – 5-8, Junior, Guard, Moscow, Russia/Georgia Highlands College/School #9
Jaeda Whitner – 5-5, Sophomore, Guard, Mason City, Iowa/Iowa Lakes CC/Mason City HS
Deja Williams – 5-7, Junior, Guard, Manvel, Texas/Eastern Oklahoma College/Manvel HS
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