Lehigh University Athletics
Women's Basketball brings in three for 2021 recruiting class
5/21/2021 10:28:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Coming off a Patriot League Championship run that saw the Lehigh women's basketball program earn an NCAA Tournament berth for the first time since 2010, the Mountain Hawks will enter the 2021-22 campaign with mostly the same roster as last season, with a few new additions to the fold.
Head coach Sue Troyan and her coaching staff officially announce an incoming class made up of three outstanding student-athletes.
"We're excited for our 2021 class to arrive on campus as they fit all the needs of our program and will provide immediate depth to a strong nucleus of returning players," said Troyan. "All three players are proven winners who will fit with the championship culture we are trying to sustain. As importantly, they fit the ethos of our Lehigh program as student-athletes who are committed to excelling in the classroom, on the court, and as leaders in their communities."
All three come from different states including Minnesota, an area that the program is keeping up with in the recruiting process, along with Michigan and Virginia.
The Class of 2025 recruiting class includes two guards and a forward, replacing graduated guards Mary Clougherty and Mariah Sexe.
The team is still comprised mostly of underclassmen with three freshmen, six sophomores, two juniors and three seniors.
Meghan O'Brien – Centreville, Va. – Chantilly – Forward
O'Brien hails from the same high school that produced recent Lehigh graduate Mary Clougherty. She totaled 1,337 points, 940 rebounds and 220 blocks during her high school career, averaging a double-double (15.6 ppg, 10.9 rpg). O'Brien earned First Team All-Conference honors four times and was the Conference Player of the Year three times. She was a three-time team captain, a four-time team MVP, earned All-Region honors three times and was a two-time All-State selection. O'Brien led Chantilly to a conference title her senior season and was also named a McDonald's All-American nominee. She also excelled on the volleyball court, leading her team to a conference title three times, a state title in 2018 and was named a First Team All-Conference and First Team All-Region selection twice. In the classroom, O'Brien earned a cumulative 4.3 GPA and is a member of both the National Honor Society and Science National Honor Society.
Coach Sue Troyan on Meghan: "Meghan is a talented post player who will bring a ton of versatility to the post position with her ability to play off the dribble, play around the basket, and step out and shoot the three. She had a stellar senior season leading her team to a conference championship while being recognized as regional player of the year. Meghan will bring immediate talent and depth to our post rotation."
Ella Stemmer – Ann Arbor, Mich. – Saline – Guard
Stemmer had a tremendous four-year career at Saline High School, breaking and setting records and leading her team to multiple championships. She holds individual records for points in a game (38), points in a season (513), points in a career (1,637), single game 3-pointers (8), 3-pointers in a season (58), 3-pointers in a career (145), free throws in a career 419 and her 90.9 percent mark from the line in a season is the second-best total in Michigan state history. As a senior, Stemmer became the first First Team All-State selection in Saline basketball history. She was First Team All-Region and Ann Arbor Player of the Year in both her junior and senior seasons. She finished her high school career as a four-time All-Conference selection. In the classroom, Stemmer was a four-time Gold Honor Roll member (3.6 GPA or above) and is a member of the National Honor Society and is graduating with High Honors (Top 5% of graduating class).
Coach Troyan on Ella: "Ella is a versatile combo guard who can score the ball in a variety of ways. She will be a great fit in our uptempo and unselfish style of play given her ability to distribute the ball, shoot the three, and get to the foul line. She's coming off an outstanding senior campaign where she was recognized as one of the state's best while leading her high school team to two regional finals. She's a proven leader and culture kid who will be committed to upholding the high standards of our Lehigh program." Kaylee Van Eps – Chaska, Minn. – Chaska – Guard
A key member of the Chaska High School squad that captured a Minnesota Class-4A state championship in 2021, Van Eps finishes up a stellar four-year high school career before taking her talents to Bethlehem. The two-time team captain is a two-time All-State Honorable Mention selection and a five-time All-Conference pick as well. She accumulated 1,398 career points, 305 assists, 623 rebounds and 148 steals as a five-year starter. On defense, Van Eps is a four-time Metro West Defensive Team Selection. In addition to her state title in 2021, Chaska won the Metro West Conference title in both 2020 and 2021 and was the 2021 Section 2 4A Champion. Along with basketball, Van Eps is a four-year letter winner and All-Conference selection in lacrosse. In the classroom, she carries a 3.9 cumulative GPA, is a three-time Academic All-Conference selection, an Academic All-State honoree and is a member and vice-president of National Honor Society.
Coach Troyan on Kaylee: "Kaylee is coming off an outstanding senior campaign that saw her Chaska High School team win a state championship while being recognized as one of the nations top high school programs. Kaylee is an athlete who will bring all of the intangibles to the court that are so important to winning. Her toughness, competitiveness, team first attitude and leadership are just a few of the qualities that make her a difference maker on the court." Lehigh Women's Basketball Class of 2025
Head coach Sue Troyan and her coaching staff officially announce an incoming class made up of three outstanding student-athletes.
"We're excited for our 2021 class to arrive on campus as they fit all the needs of our program and will provide immediate depth to a strong nucleus of returning players," said Troyan. "All three players are proven winners who will fit with the championship culture we are trying to sustain. As importantly, they fit the ethos of our Lehigh program as student-athletes who are committed to excelling in the classroom, on the court, and as leaders in their communities."
All three come from different states including Minnesota, an area that the program is keeping up with in the recruiting process, along with Michigan and Virginia.
The Class of 2025 recruiting class includes two guards and a forward, replacing graduated guards Mary Clougherty and Mariah Sexe.
The team is still comprised mostly of underclassmen with three freshmen, six sophomores, two juniors and three seniors.
Meghan O'Brien – Centreville, Va. – Chantilly – Forward
O'Brien hails from the same high school that produced recent Lehigh graduate Mary Clougherty. She totaled 1,337 points, 940 rebounds and 220 blocks during her high school career, averaging a double-double (15.6 ppg, 10.9 rpg). O'Brien earned First Team All-Conference honors four times and was the Conference Player of the Year three times. She was a three-time team captain, a four-time team MVP, earned All-Region honors three times and was a two-time All-State selection. O'Brien led Chantilly to a conference title her senior season and was also named a McDonald's All-American nominee. She also excelled on the volleyball court, leading her team to a conference title three times, a state title in 2018 and was named a First Team All-Conference and First Team All-Region selection twice. In the classroom, O'Brien earned a cumulative 4.3 GPA and is a member of both the National Honor Society and Science National Honor Society.
Coach Sue Troyan on Meghan: "Meghan is a talented post player who will bring a ton of versatility to the post position with her ability to play off the dribble, play around the basket, and step out and shoot the three. She had a stellar senior season leading her team to a conference championship while being recognized as regional player of the year. Meghan will bring immediate talent and depth to our post rotation."
Ella Stemmer – Ann Arbor, Mich. – Saline – Guard
Stemmer had a tremendous four-year career at Saline High School, breaking and setting records and leading her team to multiple championships. She holds individual records for points in a game (38), points in a season (513), points in a career (1,637), single game 3-pointers (8), 3-pointers in a season (58), 3-pointers in a career (145), free throws in a career 419 and her 90.9 percent mark from the line in a season is the second-best total in Michigan state history. As a senior, Stemmer became the first First Team All-State selection in Saline basketball history. She was First Team All-Region and Ann Arbor Player of the Year in both her junior and senior seasons. She finished her high school career as a four-time All-Conference selection. In the classroom, Stemmer was a four-time Gold Honor Roll member (3.6 GPA or above) and is a member of the National Honor Society and is graduating with High Honors (Top 5% of graduating class).
Coach Troyan on Ella: "Ella is a versatile combo guard who can score the ball in a variety of ways. She will be a great fit in our uptempo and unselfish style of play given her ability to distribute the ball, shoot the three, and get to the foul line. She's coming off an outstanding senior campaign where she was recognized as one of the state's best while leading her high school team to two regional finals. She's a proven leader and culture kid who will be committed to upholding the high standards of our Lehigh program." Kaylee Van Eps – Chaska, Minn. – Chaska – Guard
A key member of the Chaska High School squad that captured a Minnesota Class-4A state championship in 2021, Van Eps finishes up a stellar four-year high school career before taking her talents to Bethlehem. The two-time team captain is a two-time All-State Honorable Mention selection and a five-time All-Conference pick as well. She accumulated 1,398 career points, 305 assists, 623 rebounds and 148 steals as a five-year starter. On defense, Van Eps is a four-time Metro West Defensive Team Selection. In addition to her state title in 2021, Chaska won the Metro West Conference title in both 2020 and 2021 and was the 2021 Section 2 4A Champion. Along with basketball, Van Eps is a four-year letter winner and All-Conference selection in lacrosse. In the classroom, she carries a 3.9 cumulative GPA, is a three-time Academic All-Conference selection, an Academic All-State honoree and is a member and vice-president of National Honor Society.
Coach Troyan on Kaylee: "Kaylee is coming off an outstanding senior campaign that saw her Chaska High School team win a state championship while being recognized as one of the nations top high school programs. Kaylee is an athlete who will bring all of the intangibles to the court that are so important to winning. Her toughness, competitiveness, team first attitude and leadership are just a few of the qualities that make her a difference maker on the court." Lehigh Women's Basketball Class of 2025
| Name | Pos. | Hometown/High School |
| Meghan O'Brien | F | Centreville, Va./Chantilly |
| Ella Stemmer | G | Ann Arbor, Mich./Saline |
| Kaylee Van Eps | G | Chaska, Minn./Chaska |
Players Mentioned
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