TULSA, Okla. – The Oral Roberts women's basketball team has finalized their 2024 recruiting class, Head Coach Kelsi Musick announced Wednesday morning.

The Golden Eagles have signed five incoming freshmen to NLI following a historic 2023-24 campaign. ORU will welcome Mary Carden, Zai Funches, Alayna Kraus, Kylie Scott, and Alana Shetlar to campus as the Golden Eagles look to build off the program's first 20-win season since 2011.

Coach Musick and her staff have shown a great ability to identify talent and recruit in her two years at the helm. This past season, Emily Robinson became the third Golden Eagle in school history to win Summit League Freshman of the Year after averaging 11.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg and 2.9 apg. ORU also boasted last year's Summit League Newcomer of the Year in Taleyah Jones and Sixth Woman of the Year in Jalei Oglesby.

Coach Musick on the 2024 freshman class – "We are extremely excited about this signing class! Their youth, championship mentality and fit to our system is going to be something special here at Oral Roberts. We are building something great, and these young ladies fit our culture and standard and will represent ORU very well! Great things are ahead, and we are blessed to add these five freshmen to our returners and continue to take this program to the next level."

Mary Carden | Idabel, OK | 6'6" | Center
Coach Musick on Mary Carden - "We need a post presence in the paint and Mary definitely brings that with her height. She also brings a work ethic and determination to defy the odds which is important as we continue to build our program. I'm excited to see her grow and develop not just on the court, but in the weight room as well. She just won a state championship so her winning mentality will be contagious."

Zai Funches | Leawood, KS | 6'1" | Guard
Coach Musick on Zai Funches - "Zai brings the athleticism we need in the press which I am so excited for. She's a positionless player and can score at all three levels which will be a huge asset for our depth. She won a state title as well so that mentality is necessary to have when establishing a championship mindset within our program."

Tyla Heard | Sapulpa, OK | 5'11" | Guard/Forward
Coach Musick on Tyla Heard - "We are excited to have Tyla stay home and be a Golden Eagle. She knows how to win and compete, and we love that she can play multiple positions within our high-octane offense. She brings a grind that will help propel us to the next level. She can score at all three levels and loves defense, which will make her a great fit for our Golden Eagle family."

Alayna Kraus | Okawville, IL | 5'8" | Point Guard
Coach Musick on Alayna Kraus - "Alayna can score the basketball, but she's a great passer as well. We're excited about what she brings to our program with back-to-back state championships under her belt. She's going to help us elevate our winning mentality and her competitive spirit will help us stay consistent in everything that we do."

Kylie Scott | Carl Junction, MO | 6'2" | Guard/Forward
Coach Musick on Kylie Scott - "I believe Kylie will be a great mismatch player for us. She can stretch the floor but is dynamic around the rim as well. Having height on our team this upcoming season will be huge for our growth within the Summit League. Kylie comes from a winning program at Carl Junction High School where they were state runner-up her junior year. We are excited about her upside and her ability to score the basketball."

Alana Shetlar | Andover, KS | 6'3" | Guard/Forward
Coach Musick on Alana Shetlar - "We are excited about Alana's shooting ability and IQ. She is the definition of an ORU kid who wants to be here and be a part of the culture we are instilling. Alana comes from a winning culture with her high school team making a run at their state championship the last two years. I'm excited for her growth and to see her flourish in our system these next four years."

For the latest information on ORU women's basketball, follow @ORUWBB on X or go to www.ORUAthletics.com. Fans can also receive updates on the team by downloading the ORU Athletics App in the Google Play or App Store.