LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Bellarmine Head Women's Basketball Coach David Smith announced today that he has signed two basketball standouts from across the Ohio River. Kelsey Lamb (Hamilton Southeastern, Fishers Ind.) and Shelby Kissel (Mount Notre Dame, Cincinnati) have signed National Letters of Intent in the early signing period and will join Coach Smith and the Knights for the 2010-2011 campaign.

Lamb, a 6'0 forward,  plays under Coach Chris Huppenthal and helped lead the Royals of Hamilton Southeastern to a 19-1 overall record (9-0 Hoosier Crossroads Conference) as a junior. As a junior she played in all 20 games and was fifth in her conference averaging 7.75 rebounds per game. Lamb tied for third in her conference in two-point field goal percentage last year stating a 48.70 percent.

“Kelsey is strong inside player that can play defense and rebound, and score inside, Head Women's Basketball Coach David Smith said this morning. “She plays in one of the top programs in Indiana, and was receiving Division I interest but a broken bone in her foot kept her out of AAU play for almost all of the summer.  Unable to play in the evaluation period she kind of fell off the radar and I think we got a steal in Kelsey. She too is going to continue to improve and be an excellent player in our program.”

Kissel, a 5'11 forward from Mount Notre Dame, helped Coach Dante Harlan and her team to a 24-1 overall record in their campaign last year. She boasted a 2.3 rebounds per game average and a 2.6 points per game average along while recording 10 steals and eight blocks for her junior year. 

“Do not let her (Kissel) numbers fool you.” Coach Smith stated earlier today. “First her season was cut short due to a knee injury and then Mount Notre Dame is one of the top programs in the State of Ohio, which is loaded with Division I players.”  Coach Smith also added, “Shelby is another strong inside player that can score inside and is an excellent defensive player and rebounder. The Ohio Basketball Report ranks her as a solid Division I player, and to be an underclassman starting in that program is no small feat. Her best basketball is ahead of her and I feel that she will work and become a very good player in the GLVC."

Coach Smith ended by saying “Both Kelsey and Shelby are outstanding students and the type of individuals that any coach would love to have in their programs.”