UCF Adds Talented Transfers

ORLANDO – UCF head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson has announced two additions to the women's basketball program as Neila Luma and Shania Meertens have each signed national letters of intent to join the Knights in 2021-22.
 
"We are super excited about the addition of Neila and Shania to our UCF Family," Coach "ABE" said. "Neila brings experience to our forward position and Shania to our guards. We have enjoyed tremendous success, including back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, and with their high level of playing experience, Neila and Shania will add depth to our roster. They both believe in our system of family, academics and basketball."
 
A 6-foot forward, Luma started all 23 games for George Washington in 2020-21 and led the team in rebounding at 6.1 boards per game. The Macungie, Pa., native, started all but four games during her time with the Colonials and has tallied seven double-doubles in her career. This season, Luma was named the College Sports Madness A-10 Player of the Week for Nov. 25-29 after averaging 17.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game.
 
As a freshman in 2017-18, Luma was named the A-10 Co-Rookie of the Week after averaging 11.0 points per game, 12.5 rebounds per game and 2.0 assists per game in a pair of road wins. In 2018-19, sheled the team in scoring and rebounding with 10.4 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.
 
A Winter Springs, Fla., native, Meertens returns to the Central Florida area after spending the last two seasons at Clemson. The 5-foot-8 guard started her collegiate career at Stetson before leading Northwest Florida State College to the NJCAA Championship quarterfinals in 2018-19. She led the Raiders with a 42.1 three-point field goal percentage and averaged 10.0 points per game.
 
Meertens made 11 starts while appearing in 31 games in her first season Clemson. She averaged 5.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game in her first season as a Tiger. In 2020-21, Meertens made one start with 22 appearances and averaged 3.2 points per game.

The duo join a pair of incoming freshmen in Laila Jewett and Raychael Harjo who signed national letters of intent in the fall. With the additions, the Knights add depth to a talented roster that posted a runner-up finish in the American Athletic Conference in 2020-21 and earned a second-straight at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. 
 
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