Staten Island, NY – Wagner women's basketball first-year head coach
Terrell Coburn welcomes four newcomers to the program for the 2021-22 season as
Lina Loceniece (Liepaja, Latvia) will join
Kisha Ballinger (Hyattsville, MD),
Mikyah Finley (Detroit, MI), and
Cassidy Saylor (Easton, PA) to complete the roster for the upcoming season.
"
Our program is thrilled to announce and welcome our four newcomers," said head coach
Terrell Coburn. "
Kisha, Mikyah, Lina, and Cassidy all bring different strengths that matches well with our returners. They all love to compete and posses the drive to get better each and everyday. I'm excited to see what the future has in store for them."
Kisha Ballinger
5-8 | Guard
Hyattsville, MD | Emerge Christian Academy
Played a year for Lonnie Harrell at Emerge Christian Academy in Lanham, MD… Averaged 13.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.0 steals per game for the Panthers… Played two seasons at New Hope Academy before moving to Charles H. Flowers High School… Member of the honor roll and won Most Improved Player back in 2018… Played for DC Premier…
Took part in a special ABC News Juneteenth broadcast titlted, "Together We Triumph" that featured former United States President Barack Obama.
Mikyah Finley
5-9 | Guard
Detroit, MI | Renaissance
Four-year member of the Renaissance High School basketball program under the direction of Olesani Lawal… In 42 career games, averaged 11.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 2.1 assists per game… In 18 games in her senior season in 2020-21, she averaged 11.3 points per game while scoring in double-figures 11 times, highlighted by a season-best 23 points in a 59-43 victory against Grosse Pointe South (Mar. 29)… Grabbed a season-high nine rebounds in that contest to go along with three blocks… In 2019-20, averaged 11.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.5 spg, and 2.5 apg in 24 games… Netted 15 double-digits games while eclipsing the 20-point threshold twice, sparked by a 22 point outing in a 56-33 win over Mercy (Mar. 10)… Set a career-high with nine rebounds against Carman-Ainsworth (Feb. 19)… Dished out a career-high seven assists while scoring 17 points against Western International in a 73-13 win (Feb. 3)... In the classroom, was a two-time member of the Honor Roll… Played for AAU for Michigan Storm where she averaged 15.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 5.5 spg and 3.5 apg.
Lina Loceniece
5-7 | Guard
Liepaja, Latvia | Liepaja State First Gymnasium
Played three seasons with SBK Liepaja/LSSS in the Douglas Latvian Women's Basketball League... Helped lead her team to a pair of second-place finishes in 2019-20 and 2020-21... In 2018-19, she played in 32 games while averaging 12.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game ... She converted on 54.3 percent shooting from the field while hitting at an 86.2 percent clip from the free-throw line while logging 26.5 minutes a contest... In 2020-21, she appeared in 17 games, playing 25.0 minutes a contest while netting 11.5 points per game, grabbing 2.2 rebounds a contest, and dishing out 1.6 helpers... She increased her shooting from three-point range, connecting at a 33.6 percent clip, making nearly three trifectas a contest... In 2018-19, she was a member of the Liepaja U-19S team, tallying 16.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg, and distributing 3.3 apg in four contests
Cassidy Saylor
5-10 | Guard
Easton, PA | Bethlehem Catholic/Easton
Played three seasons at Easton Area High School before transferring to Bethlehem Catholic… In her junior year for Easton, she averaged 13.2 points, 1.9 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game while being named to the EPC All-League First Team and LehighValleyLive All-Area Second Team… Had 15 games in which she went for double-figures while eclipsing the 20-point plateau five times, highlighted by a season-best 25-point performance in a 51-35 victory over Nazareth back on Dec. 28, 2019… Increased her scoring production between her first and second years, averaging 12.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg and 1.7 apg in her second season en route to being named EPC All-League Second Team… Was also a member of the Golden Hawks volleyball and lacrosse programs… In the classroom, three-time National Honor Society Member while earning High Honor Roll accolades in every marking period… Member of the Spanish Honor Society in her junior year… Helped Easton's lacrosse team to the 2018 league championship… Played for United NJ AAU.
