Valparaiso University women’s basketball coach Mary Evans has added a player who is already a proven commodity at the collegiate level to the program.

The Crusaders have announced the addition of Carie Weinman, who joins the team as a transfer after a successful freshman season at Denver. The Glenview, Ill. native will sit out her first year on campus due to transfer rules and will have three seasons of eligibility beginning in 2019-2020.

“The coaching staff is a big part of what attracted me to Valpo,” Weinman said. “Coach Evans is not only a great coach, but also a great person. That’s the type of person I want as a coach because my basketball team is my second family. Coming here and meeting my teammates and coaches has made Valpo feel like a second home.”

Weinman averaged 6.4 points per game and shot 44 percent from 3-point range in her one season with the Pioneers. She poured in 34 points on 11-of-22 shooting on Dec. 3, 2017, helping Denver to an 80-73 victory over Northern Arizona. The 34-point output ranked tied for fourth in program history and was the highest single-game point total by a Pioneer in 17 years.

“Carie demonstrated throughout her freshman year that she is a great shooter,” Evans said. “After playing for a strong AAU program, she proved that she can play at the college level. The opportunity to bring in a transfer who can make an impact in the program is something we couldn’t pass up.”

Transferring to Valpo allows Weinman to reunite with former Glenbrook South High School and AAU teammate Caitlin Morrison, who is entering her junior season with the Crusaders.

“I’ve always loved playing with Caitlin,” Weinman said. “We play extremely well together and we’re very good friends. I’m excited to be around Caitlin again both on and off the court.”

Weinman, a 5-foot-9 shooting guard, was named to the Associated Press Class 4A All-State second team as a senior in high school after averaging 21.7 points, 6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 4.6 steals per game. She finished as the third leading scorer in program history (1,433), was the Central Suburban South Player of the Year and garnered the Pioneer Press Newspaper Girls Basketball Player of the Year honor for 2016-2017. A four-year starter, Weinman finished as the school’s all-time leader in steals.

Evans noted that there are several advantages to adding a transfer to the program.

“She knows what the grind of being a college athlete is like day in and day out,” Evans said. “She already knows the difference between high school and college basketball. Her ability to sit out for a year and learn our system and then play a fifth year at a more mature age is another great advantage that she has as a transfer.”