7/3/07-- Long Island University head women’s basketball coach Stephanie V. Gaitley announced the addition of four players to the roster for the upcoming season. Chelsi Johnson (Egg Harbor Township, N.J.), Ashley Palmer (Oxford, Pa.), Chelsea Shea (South Burlington, Vt.) and Justine Stevenson (Jackson, N.J.) will join the Blackbirds for the 2007-08 campaign.

Johnson, a 6-foot guard/forward from Holy Spirit High School, averaged 13.2 points and 12.5 rebounds per game as a senior. She amassed over 1,300 points during her career and earned All-Cape Atlantic League and All-Parochial First Team honors. In addition, Johnson was named to the Press of Atlantic City’s first team.

“Chesli is fluid and extremely versatile,” Gaitley said. “At six feet tall she can go inside, yet she often played point guard for her high school team and has great guard skills. Her athletic ability and knowledge of the game should allow for an easy transition to the college game.”

Palmer comes to Long Island from Oxford Area High School where she set the school scoring record with 2,033 points. A 5-10 guard/forward, Palmer averaged 19.3 points and 8.0 rebounds as a senior and was named Second Team All-State.

“Ashley will create match-up problems because she can face up and hit the jumper and yet has deceiving quickness as well as strength,” Gaitley said. “She was someone who fell under the radar who should have a great career at LIU.”

Shea, a 5-6 point guard, played at South Burlington High School where she averaged 9.8 points, 3.3 assists and 2.6 steals per game. Shea was a Burlington Free Press All-State Second Team selection and has also been named second team all-league.

“Chelsea is a solid point guard who is a student of the game,” Gaitley said. “She is a leader on the court and a coach’s right hand. Chelsea is solid on both ends of the floor and does a great job of taking care of the ball and getting it to her teammates.”

Stevenson, a 5-11 forward from Jackson Memorial High School, averaged 17.4 points and 12.7 boards as a senior en route to becoming the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,459 points. She was named first team all-division by the Asbury Park Press four times and earned similar accolades from the Newark Star-Ledger and the Ocean County Observer three times each.

“Justine is strong and physical and will give us a strong post presence,” Gaitley said. “She has great leadership and competitive skills and will push for playing time immediately.”

The Blackbirds finished 22-9 last year and shared the Northeast Conference regular-season title with a 15-3 mark in league play.