LOUISVILLE, Ky.-Bellarmine University women's basketball coach Dave Smith has announced two signees for next year's squad. Therese Montano, a 5-9 guard from Mercy Academy in Louisville, and Kylee Hamilton, a 5-4 guard from Morgantown, Ind, have signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Knights next year.

Montano is a versatile guard that helped lead Mercy to the 2010 KHSAA state championship where she averaged 6.4 ppg and 3.5 rpg. She was named 1^st Team All-State by the Associated Press and earned most valuable player honors of the Louisville Invitational Tournament, which Mercy also won. She has been selected to represent the state in the annual Kentucky/Indiana All-Star game.

“She was the heart and soul of Mercy's state championship team. She can do just about anything a coach would want,” Said Coach Smith.

Montano comes from a long line of Bellarmine grads, both of her parents graduated from Bellarmine and one of her aunts played for the Knights from 1984-1987.

“It's always great to get a local player for our program,” said Coach Smith. “It's even better when they have as many ties to the University as Therese does.”

Kylee Hamilton comes from Indian Creek High School where she was second in the state of Indiana in points per game at 26.7. She finished her prep career with 1944 points, which was the most all-time at Indian Creek. Hamilton was named 1^st Team All-State by Hoosier Basketball Magazine and the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. She was also named Metro South Player of the Year by the Indy Star.

Coach Smith likes the potential Kylee has. “She was the MVP of the North/South All-Star game and the only person to score more points in that game is going to Purdue. I think we got a great player that can shoot the three, handle the ball, and pass in the open court. We got a steal in signing her, we may have hit the lottery.”

“I think Kylee could potentially give us our second straight GLVC freshman of the year,” Smith said.

Montano and Hamilton join Lauren Jones, a transfer from Austin Peay University, Kelsey Lamb, and Shelby Kissel to sign for the Knights for next season.