NEWARK, Del. - University of Delaware women’s basketball head coach Tina Martin, who enters her 15th season with the program, announced the addition of four new players for the upcoming 2010-11 season.

The group includes 6-3 freshman forward/center Kelsey Buchanan, who signed to play with the Blue Hens last November, as well as three NCAA Division I transfers – 6-3 center Sarah Acker (Saint Joseph’s), 5-9 guard Akeema Richards (West Virginia University) and 5-10 guard Trumae Lucas (University of Florida).

Buchanan, a 6-3 forward/center from South Riding, Va., comes to the University following a successful career as a four-year starter at Freedom High School where she set school career records in scoring (1,548), rebounding (1,201) and blocked shots (483).

She tallied 200 assists while her team amassed an overall record of 98-23. Buchanan also recorded her school’s first-ever triple-double (13 points, 11 rebounds, 11 blocks) and set a Virginia High School League record with 10 blocks in the championship game as part of another triple double (11 points, 21 rebounds, 10 blocks).

During her senior year, she was a McDonald’s All-America nominee, was tabbed the VSHL Coaches Association Division 4 Player of the Year, was named to the Washington Post All-Met first team, and was the Most Valuable Player of the Premier Girls Game Buffalo Wild Wings Roundball Classic. She also guiding her squad to a second state title in as many seasons.

“I’m very excited about the addition of Kelsey to our front line, she runs the floor very well,” said Martin of her true freshman. “She’s a very good shot blocker and will be a great addition to our Blue Hen Family.”

Acker, who transferred from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, is a native of Nanticoke, Pa. She was the first Saint Joseph’s freshman to lead the squad in scoring (11.9 ppg), rebounding (8.7 rpg) and blocks (46), earning her All-Big Five and Big Five Rookie of the Year honors.

During her freshman campaign, she played in all 31 games, making 30 starts, while leading the Atlantic 10 Conference in field goal percentage. She also ranked third in scoring, third in rebounding, and fifth in blocked shots. She will be eligible to play following the 2010 fall semester and will have sophomore eligibility.

“Sarah is a young lady we recruited out of high school. We’re very happy to have her in a Delaware uniform this season,” Martin stated. “Offensively, she rebounds the ball very well, and definitely has a presence in the postposition. We welcome her to our program.”

Richards, a 5-9 guard from Baltimore, Md., will sit out the 2010-11 season per NCAA transfer rules but will have three years of eligibility for the 2011-12 season.

She scored over 1,200 points during her high school career. A highly touted recruit, she was rated 79th by the All-Star Girls report, a national recruiting tool. Richards was named the Baltimore City Player of the Year in 2007, as well as a Baltimore Sun All-Metro first-teamer. She averaged 12.1 points per game, 2.9 rebounds per game and 4.5 assists, as well as shooting over 50 percent from the field as a senior.

“Akeema is a young lady who can create her own shot. She’s a very athletic guard who is explosive and likes to get to the rim,” said Martin. “She has a scorers mentality, and we are excited to have her athletic play in our program.”

Lucas, a 5-10 guard from Greensboro, N.C., will also sit out the 2010-11 per NCAA rules and will have two years of eligibility.

In the 2009-10 season, Lucas played in all 30 of the team’s games prior to the start of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) before announcing her transfer. She averaged 16.4 minutes per game and was the Gators’ leading scorer off the bench, posting 5.3 points a game. Lucas recorded a career best 15 points, going seven-of-seven from the line. A solid free throw shooter, she strung together a streak of 11 in a row.

During the 2008-09 season for the Gators, Lucas played in all but one game of her freshman campaign, starting in the final five of the year.

She earned All-Southeastern Conference honors and was named to the All-SEC Freshman Team. Lucas recorded a career-high 14 points in the team’s win over Kentucky and topped her career best in four consecutive games while averaging 12.7 minutes of playing time in her first season.

“Trumae is a point guard who brings speed to the floor at that position, and she is an outstanding passer,” boasted Martin. “Having her experience at the University of Florida in the tough SEC will be a big asset to that position.”

“I believe with the addition of these four players, we have improved our basketball program and I am very excited about the future,” Martin said of her team’s outlook. Last season, the team enjoyed a 21-12 record, earning a bid to the Women’s National Invitation Tournament. Martin has amassed an overall record of 258-161 (.616) and a 158-94 (.657) mark in the Colonial Athletic Association.