MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois women's basketball head coach JD Gravina announced the signing of Ashley Luke (Oak Creek, WI/Oak Creek) to the Leatherneck program. Luke will start her Western career in the 2012-13 season.

Luke redshirted at Green Bay last year as a freshman, and left the program following the departure of former head coach Matt Bollant to Illinois and the hiring of a new coaching staff. She becomes the seventh newcomer for Gravina and the Leathernecks this season.

A 6-1 forward, Luke averaged 14.5 points and nine rebounds per game her senior year and was a Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association All-State selection. She helped the Knights to the sectional finals. Luke was a Second Team All-Conference selection following her junior year as she averaged 14.1 points per game.

"We are very excited to sign a player as talented as Ashley. She runs the floor extremely well for someone her height and is extremely athletic," said Gravina. "I think Ashley fits in well with our program's philosophy both athletically and academically, and is talented enough to make an impact in the Summit League."

Luke joins fellow transfer Tori Niemann (5-11/Jr.) and high school signees: Sophie Reichelt (6-2/F), Michelle Maher (5-9/G), Paige Harmon (6-0/F), Liz Skotowski (5-9/G), and Charnelle Reed (5-10/G). The Leathernecks return nine players for next year but lose their top two scorers from the previous season.

Picked to finish tenth in the 2011-12 preseason Summit League poll, Gravina and his first-year Western squad finished 7-11 in the league tying for sixth place. The Leathernecks (12-19 overall/+4 win total from previous year) advanced to the semifinals of the Summit League Tournament following a first round win over Oral Roberts.

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