Staten Island, NY – Wagner first-year head women's basketball coach Heather Jacobs has signed two highly-regarded international players, Joellen How from Opunake, New Zealand and Taylah Simmons from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, each of whom are enrolled in classes at Wagner College and will compete in practices immediately before becoming eligible to play in the 2017-18 season.

How is a 5-10 guard from Opunake, New Zealand where she competed for the New Plymouth Girls' High School which is a member of the Taranaki Secondary Schools Association (TSSA). After earning New Plymouth's MVP award in 2016, How was selected to compete in the 2016 New Zealand World Basketball Championships.
 
"Joellen has a terrific ability to read the game," said Jacobs. "Not only can she shoot it and score but she puts her teammates in positions to be successful. She is a special player because she will not only contribute but she has the ability to make those around her better." 
 
Simmons is a 6-0 guard, who competed for Canterbury Girls' Secondary College and boasts a wide and varied basketball resume. She averaged 13.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 18 games in helping to lead the Nunawading Spectres, to a semifinal appearance in the 2016 Victorian Youth Championship while earning All Star 5 recognition in the process. The Specteres have produced more Australian Olympic and World Championship players and coaches than any other program in the country.
 
Simmons also spent time with the Balwyn Redbacks, Ebees and Wattle Park Saints in Melbourne East Basketball Association (MEBA) / Greater Eastern Basketball Conference (GEBC) competition
 
"Taylah is extremely versatile with the ability to score in multiple ways," Jacobs said. "She is going to thrive within our system. Her effort and understanding of the game can be easily noted and we expect her to make a significant impact immediately."

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