Drury women's basketball signs four players to 2024-25 roster

Drury women's basketball head coach Kaci Bailey announced four additional signees for the 2024-25 season. The Lady Panthers will add New Mexico State transfer guard Raegan Holliday, Australian forward Audra Pasakarnis out of Mineral Area Community College, forward Laia Garcia from Spain, and forward Sophie Hessler from Sweden.

Halliday will join Drury after starting her college career at New Mexico State. Halliday missed the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons with injuries. The Olathe, Kansas, native was a four-time All-State selection in class 6A, playing for Olathe South High School. Halliday was also a four-time All-Sunflower Conference selection, averaging 14.3 points, four rebounds, and 3.4 assists as a senior.

"Raegan is a familiar face in the recruiting process as we recruited her two years ago (for Quincy)," said Bailey. "She brings a high IQ, work ethic, and leadership mentality to our program."

Drury will also add some size to their line-up with the addition of Pasakarnis from Mineral Area Community College. The 5-11 native of New South Wales, Australia, played in all 30 games and averaged 6.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.1 last year. Pasakarnis put up 9.1 points and had 4.8 boards per game as a freshman in 2022-23. Mineral Area went 47-16 during her two seasons on the squad and reached the District championship game in 2023.

"Audra knows how to win," stated Bailey. "She was a vital part of Mineral Area's success over the last two seasons. She will contribute in multiple areas with her versatile scoring from inside to out."

Hessler comes from Stockholm, Sweden, and will enter Drury as a freshman. She played for Exodus Europe, a touring team sponsored by Nike, and for the Swedish club team Tureberg.

"Sophie is a versatile player who can score inside and out," said coach Bailey. "She brings a great work ethic, high character, and scoring ability to the program. Sophie has great decision-making ability and will impact the game, whether passing to an open teammate, taking a high-percentage shot, or reading defensive schemes effectively."

Drury adds height to their roster with the signing of Garcia, a 6-1 forward from Cambrils, Spain. Garcia will arrive as a freshman, having played club basketball in Europe for Reus Ploms.

"Laia is a great athlete with a versatile skill set," noted Bailey. "She has untapped potential and can play multiple positions. She is a competitor and does not shy away from being aggressive on the attack and can create with contact. Offensively, Laia looks to attack off the bounce and drive to the rim. She brings a transition presence as she runs the floor and uses her length very effectively in the paint with step-throughs and up-and-unders. Defensively, she plays really well in the full-court game as she flies around and is disruptive on the ball and with her length."

The four signees will join a Lady Panthers team in 2024-25 that returns seven letter winners and two starters from a team that went 25-7, 18-4 in the conference, and reached the NCAA-II Tournament last year.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Drury women's basketball signs four players to 2024-25 roster