EVANSVILLE – Matt Ruffing and his University of Evansville women's basketball team may be just one day away from the start of the 2016-17 season, but the first-year head coach has already started working on next year as he announced the signing of Kayla Casteel on Friday.
 
"We are excited to welcome Kayla and her parents Lorie and Grant to our Purple Aces family," Ruffing said. "I can't thank them enough for their commitment to our program and our coaching staff's vision. Kayla is a great shooter from long range with a high basketball IQ, and I think she is going to fit in well with our team both on and off the court."
 
Last season, Casteel helped lead Plainfield High School to a 24-3 overall record. She capped the season with a second career honorable mention all-state nod, and she really shined from beyond the arc, leading the team with 53 three-pointers.
 
Casteel is the first signing for the 2017-18 campaign.
 
UE will begin its current season on Saturday against Cleveland State at the Ford Center. Tipoff is slated for 1 p.m.
 
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