DETROIT (7/6/2021) -- The University of Detroit Mercy women's basketball program and interim head coach
LaTanya Collins has announced the signing of three incoming student-athletes, who are slated to join the Titans later this summer.
Joining the Titan women's basketball family are
Akyia Baker (Newark, N.J. / St. Thomas Aquinas),
Sonia Pereda (Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain) and
Emma Trawally (Tiana, Spain).
The three join incoming freshman guard
Taylor Blunt (Morgantown, Pa. / The Peddie School [N.J.]), who was announced back in early December 2020.
"I am excited to welcome this freshman class to the University of Detroit Mercy! Each of these young ladies has the skill set to step on the floor and contribute immediately," coach Collins said. "My staff and I look forward to working with all of them and watch them grow and develop over their time here at Detroit Mercy.
"We are excited about their potential to contribute on the court, but we are even more excited about who they are as people and how much of an asset they will be to the UDM community."
A look at the three incoming Titan freshmen:
Akyia Baker // Guard
Height: 5-8
Hometown: Newark, N.J.
High School: St. Thomas Aquinas
Highlights: A 2021 graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas ... Named the GMC Player of the Year as a senior in 2020-21 ... Earned First Team All-County & First Team All Conference accolades for the Trojans ... Helped team to unbeaten records in county play for two seasons in a row as the squad won county titles in both seasons ... Won first county championship in 19 years ... Scored more than 800 points during high school career.
Coach Collins on Baker: "Akyia has a real love for the game of basketball. She comes from a winning program and understands what it takes to win. She can score the basketball and is exciting to watch."
Sonia Pereda // Guard
Height: 5-7
Hometown: Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
High School: Carmelitas Sagrado Corazon
Highlights: Has played club basketball with Araski AES for 11 years ... Helped her Ointxe Araski Junior (U18) team to a 16-4 record, averaging 8.1 points per game and 1.0 3-pointers made per game, shooting 79% from the free throw line during the 2019-20 season ... Helped Ointxe Araski Cadete (U16) squad to Euskadi championship and 20 wins overall, scoring 19.1 ppg during 2018-19 ... Averaged 14.7 ppg., 3.7 rpg., 2.3 spg. and 2.0 apg. shooting 36% on 3-pointers and 88% on FT in Spanish Nationals U16 ... In 2017-18 season, helped Ointxe Araski U16 squad to third place finish (out of 32 teams) in Spanish Nationals U16 ... Played with the Spanish National Team at the U12 and U15 levels ... Selected to Euskadi All-State Team at U12, U14 and U16.
Coach Collins on Pereda: "Sonia is a quick, crafty point guard who can score and pass. She studies the game a lot and has a huge desire to learn more. I am looking forward to seeing how much she develops throughout the year."
Emma Trawally // Forward
Height: 6-1
Hometown: Tiana, Spain
High School: Institut Thalassa
Highlights: Played with Femeni Maresme Junior (U18) team in 2019-20, helping squad to 16-7 record before the Covid-19 pause and averaging 5.1 points per game, shooting 57% from the floor and 85% at the free throw line on the top-ranked team with six Division I committed players ... Scored 12 points per game and helped lead Femeni Maresme Junior (U18) team to 18-8 mark in 2018-19 ... In 2020-21, played with UE Mataro Femeni Maresme (Spanish Second Division) and averaged 2.8 ppg and 3.3 rpg, shooting 56% from the floor and 80% from the free throw line with best game an 17-points, 6-rebound and 2-block effort ... Played club basketball across 10 seasons overall -- eight with Femeni Maresme and two with Unio Esportiva Mataro, participating in five Catalonian championships (winning three) and competing in four Spanish championships (winning two of them).
Coach Collins on Trawally: "Emma's athleticism, willingness to compete, and ability to finish around the basket will be beneficial this season. She finishes well in the paint and provides a much needed inside presence."
All three of them join Taylor Blunt,
who was announced as a new Titan back in early December.
Coach Collins on Blunt: "Taylor is an efficient scorer who has played the game at a high level. She is a leader and the ultimate team player. Her versatility at the guard spot will be very beneficial this upcoming season."
Stay tuned for more announcements on the Titan women's basketball program as the roster and staff begins to take shape for the 2021-22 season.
