UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State women's basketball team, led by head coach Carolyn Kieger, has added two transfers for the 2022-23 season. Guard Ivane Tensaie and forward Alexa Williamson are set to join the Lady Lions.
Ivane Tensaie
G | 5-7 | Sophomore | Roseville, Minn. | Concordia Academy/North Dakota State School of Science
Tensaie comes to Penn State after playing last season at North Dakota State School of Science, where she was named the NJCAA Freshman Player of the Year. She was also named All-Region Player of the Year and was a first team All-Conference and All-Region selection in 2021-22.
The Minnesota native averaged 20.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game, while shooting 42 percent from the field, 42 percent from three and 89 percent from the free throw line.
Tensaie tallied 31 double-figure scoring performances in 2021-22, including 17 games with 20+ points and four games with 30+ points.
She had a career-high 34 points, including 10 three-pointers, against Dawson CC. She also had 33 points vs. Lake Region State College and 31 in each game against Bryant and Stratton College and Iowa Western CC. Tensaie had 11 games where she hit at least five three-pointers.
She led NDSCS to a District Championship in 2021-22 and an appearance in the NJCAA National Tournament.
Tensaie won two conference player of the week awards and was the NJCAA DI National Player of the Week on November 21, 2021.
Coach Kieger on Tensaie: "I am thrilled for Ivane to join our Penn State family. She is a knock-down shooter who has proven to hit shots at an elite level. She immediately gives us another threat for the guard position that can score from all three levels and spread the floor. Her basketball ability is elite and her character and desire to improve are contagious. I cannot wait to get her to campus!"
Alexa Williamson
F | 6-1 | Graduate Student | Houston, Pa. | Chartiers-Houston/Temple
Williamson joins Penn State as a grad transfer after playing four years at Temple.
In her Temple career, Williams played in 103 games and started 69, collecting 788 points, 504 rebounds and 92 blocks, while shooting 44.5 percent from the floor.
Williamson played in 27 games and made 17 starts for the Owls in 2021-22. She averaged 8.0 points, ranking second on the team, and 5.0 rebounds per game. Williamson ranked fifth in the AAC with 1.37 blocks per game and sixth with 37 total blocks.
As a senior, Williamson had 10 double-figure scoring efforts, including double-doubles against FGCU (23 points, 12 rebounds), St. John's (19 points, 14 rebounds) and UCF (12 points, 14 rebounds). Williamson tallied 20 points at Cincinnati.
Williamson collected All-Big 5 second team honors in 2020-21 after starting all 21 contests and averaging 12.5 points and 6.7 rebounds. She had 11 games scoring in double-figures, including three 20-point efforts. Williamson scored a career-high 29 points against Memphis (3/2/21). She had double-doubles against Tulsa (18 points, 10 rebounds) and Tulane (17 points, 11 rebounds).
The Houston, Pa. native played at Chartiers-Houston high school, where she earned Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2A Player of the Year in 2017. As a junior, she led Chartiers-Houston to a WPIAL Class 2A Championship.
Coach Kieger on Williamson: "I am elated for Alexa to join our Penn State family. Her athleticism and motor are off the charts. She has an elite ability to run the floor and rebound and her versatility allows her to be a threat on both ends of the floor. Stylistically, she is a perfect fit and fulfills an immediate need in our program. I am eager for her to join our program and cannot wait until she arrives in Happy Valley."
