SPRINGFIELD -- Missouri State received three National Letters of Intent for women's basketball Wednesday, as a trio of high school seniors from Kansas signed to play for the Lady Bears. Tor'e Alford, Emilee Ebert and Trinity Knapp will join the program as freshmen for the 2019-20 season.

"I'm excited about the additions to our program," MSU head coach Kellie Harper said of her sixth signing class at MSU. "We are adding players who are equally excited to be part of the Lady Bears family. As a group, they have good basketball IQ, athleticism and playmaking ability."

Tor'e Alford • 5-7 • G • Wichita, Kan. • Derby High
Tor'e (pronounced Tori) Alford will be in her fourth season as Derby High's starting point guard this winter, and has guided the Panthers to a combined 62-10 overall record and 30-5 conference mark in her first three seasons. Alford averaged 10.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 3.1 steals per game as a junior as Derby won its final 23 games of the season on the way to a Kansas Class 6A championship. She shot nearly 50 percent from the field and dished out at least seven assists in three games, setting Derby's career assist record during the season. Alford was a first-team 6A all-state pick from two outlets, and an honorable mention all-class selection. As a sophomore, Alford averaged 10 points, 5.1 assists and 2.5 steals with a pair of double-figure assist games, and earned three different all-state honors. Alford posted averages of 8.0 points, 5.0 assists and 2.5 steals as a freshman, receiving all-state honorable mention nods from the Wichita Eagle and Topeka Capital Journal.

Harper on Alford:
"Tor'e Alford is a talented guard who makes plays and makes her teammates better. She can really handle the ball and has a great feel for the game of basketball."


Emilee Ebert • 6-0 • G • Frankfort, Kan. • Frankfort High
Emilee Ebert (pronounced EH-bert) enters her senior season at Frankfort High with more than 1,200 points and 500 rebounds after starting every game her first three years. Ebert earned first-team all-class and 1A all-state honors as a junior after averaging 19 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals per game. Ebert averaged a double-double with 17 points and 10 boards as a sophomore for a first-team all-state selection. She was a first-team all-league and third-team 1A all-state pick her freshman year, adding honorable mention all-class honors with averages of 18 points, 2.5 and 1.1 blocks. Ebert was also a four-year starting outside hitter in volleyball for the Wildcats, and owns school records in the 100-meter dash and long jump.

Harper on Ebert:
"Emilee Ebert is a long and athletic guard who gives us size on the perimeter. She is a versatile player who can handle the ball, score off the dribble and shoot the 3"


Trinity Knapp • 6-3 • F • Shawnee, Kan. • Mill Valley High
Trinity Knapp helped Mill Valley High to an 18-5 record as a junior in her first season as a starter, earning honorable mention Eastern Kansas League honors after shooting 51 percent from the field with averages of 8.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. She also boasted a positive assist-to-turnover ratio that season. Knapp averaged nearly one block per game off the bench as a sophomore, adding 4.0 points and 2.5 boards per contest. Her father, Joe, was a quarterback at Missouri S&T in the early 1990s.

Harper on Knapp:
"Trinity Knapp is an athletic post player with the ability to finish in the paint as well as stretch the defense. She has great length, and has a knack for getting rebounds."