Burke adds three to class of 2025
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's basketball head coach Mary Burke announces three signees for the class of 2025 who will make their way to Smithfield in the fall of 2021.
Dana Kiefer, Jessica Berens, and Marta Neira will join the Bulldogs for the 2021-22 season.
Dana Kiefer | Forward | 6-2 | Pennington, N.J./Archbishop Wood
A two-year varsity letterwinner at Archbishop Wood under head coach Mike McDonald … Helped her team to a Pennsylvania District 12 Championship and Philadelphia Catholic League Regular Season Title after a 21-7 season in 2019-20 … Led the high school squad to the Philadelphia Catholic League Playoffs where the Vikings finished as a runner-up in 2019-20 … Guided the 2019-20 team to a PIAA Quarterfinal … Averaged seven points per game, five rebounds per game, one steal per game, and one assist per game during her junior season … Leads the team as a captain for the 2020-21 season … Plays AAU basketball for the Mid Atlantic Magic under her high school coach Mike McDonald … Helped her AAU team win the 2020 USJN 17U National Championship … Named USJN Qualifier East All-Star in 2019.
Coach Burke: "A forward who comes to Bryant with a great repertoire of versatile skills. She's capable of playing on the perimeter at 6'2 with her guard skills and deep range, as well as inside with her finishing skills in the paint and around the rim. This will make her a tough match-up for opposing forwards in the Northeast Conference. Her ability to run the floor will be a perfect fit for our transition game and system. Dana also plays for one of the premier high school programs in the country, so the mentality of what it takes to win will be firmly in place."
Jessica Berens | Center | 6-4 | Durham, Conn./Coginchaug Regional
A four-year varsity letterwinner at Coginchaug Regional High School under head coach Christopher Watson … A 2018 Connecticut State Champion in 2018 … Named Shoreline First Team All-Conference in 2020 … Listed as the Hartford Current Fab 15 in 2019 and 2020 … CIAC Top 25 Girls Basketball Players to Watch in 2019-20 … Plays AAU basketball for the CT Cobras under head coach Russ Hill … Ranked third in the Top 2021 Player Rankings for Northeast Girls Recruiting – CT.
Coach Burke: "One of the tallest players to wear the black and gold, Jess is a 6-4 post. This center will be deceivingly mobile and will make for a great target in transition. Jess has continued to grow over her high school and AAU career and has a great upside for a Bryant system that is very post driven. An added benefit to her size and ability to play with her back-to-the-basket, is how comfortable she is facing up to the basket from 15'. Her size will also be a great asset on the offensive and defensive glass for the Bulldogs."
Marta Neira | Forward | 6-0 | Barcelona, Spain/Palcam
Played European club basketball with Barça CBS from 2017-2020 with current Bulldog Mariona Planes Fortuny ... Attended high school at Palcam.
Coach Burke: "Continuing with the Barcelona connection, this 6'0 wing brings good size and strength as a BIG GUARD. Her ability to take it off the dribble and shoot the three will continue to build on our offensive firepower. Her size will also pose a tough match-up on the defensive side of the ball which should lead to many advantages for the Bulldogs."