WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- Midwestern State added four more to its 2015 signing class as announced Tuesday afternoon.
 
The additions for the 2015-16 season include transfers Rochelle Lauer, Hunter Thomas and Jacquar Westbrooks as well as prep standout Kendriana Washington.
  
"These four young ladies add experience and elevate the talent level that we already have in our core group here at Midwestern," MSU coach Noel Johnson said. "Coupled with our early signees, it is the biggest class ever signed during my stint here at MSU.  I am excited to have each and every one of these young ladies in my program and look forward to practices and working with them on a daily basis.  They are not only good basketball players, but good students and great people."
 
Lauer, 5-11 guard, transfers in after spending the last four seasons making contributions to the SMU program. She competed in five games as a freshman in 2011-12, served as manager the next two years before returning to the floor to play in 12 games last season. She has one year of remaining eligibility.
 
The Avondale, Ariz. native earned three varsity letters at Westview High helping the team to the Arizona state semifinals as a sophomore and senior. Lauer earned second-team all-region honors as a senior in 2010-11 averaging 8.9 points and 7.4 rebounds a game.
 
"Rochelle is a utility forward that has an unbelievable work ethic.  Her experience and leadership qualities are going to be vital to the success of this team next year," Johnson said."Rochelle has a very high basketball I.Q. and I look for her to make an immediate impact day one.  I am so elated to have Rochelle as a part of our team/family."
 
Thomas makes the move to Wichita Falls after helping Johnson County CC (Kan.) to an National Junior College Athletic Association Division II championship last season finishing the season with a 34-2 mark.
 
The 6-1 forward averaged 4.8 points and 5.1 rebounds while appearing in 33 games for the Cavaliers. She scored in double figures in six games including a 10-point, 16-rebound effort in a win over Brown Mackie (Kan.) on Feb. 7.
 
Thomas competed at Division I Northern Arizona appearing in six games for the Lumberjacks as a freshman in 2013-14. She tallied three points in her collegiate debut at Texas-El Paso on Nov. 22, 2013.
 
"I am so excited to have Hunter join our team/family.  She is the epitome of a physical center," Johnson said. "She brings great experience playing on the Division I level along with winning a national championship on the junior college level.  Her high motor and work ethic will impact both ends of the floor for this team.  Her rebounding ability will have an immediate effect on controlling the backboard in games."
 
Thomas enjoyed a stellar prep career finishing up her senior year at Blue Valley Southwest High School in Overland Park, Kan. where she earned first-team all-conference and second-team all-state honors breaking single season records in scoring, rebounding, blocked shots and shooting percentage for the Timberwolves.
 
She helped St. Aquinas High School -- also in Overland Park, Kan. -- to three sub-state titles in her first three high school seasons as the Saints claimed to league championships and claimed three top-three finishes in the state tournament including undefeated run in her sophomore year.
 
Westbrooks transfers in from NCAA Division II Rollins (Fla.) where she was a part of two NCAA tournament runs with the Tars.
 
The 5-7 guard from Miami played in 47 games over the last two years at Rollins averaging 1.3 points and 1.7 rebounds as a sophomore after scoring 3.7 points and pulling down 1.7 rebounds a contest as a freshman.
 
"Jacquar is a very athletic combo guard that can slash to the rim with ease.  She brings a wealth of experience playing on the Division II level," Johnson said. "Her maturity brings a boost to our team chemistry.  I am so happy to have Jacquar as a part of our team/family."
 
Westbrooks enjoyed a standout prep career at Gulliver Prep in Miami helping the Raiders to district championships in 2009 and 2013. As a three-time all-state performer, she earned third-team honors as a sophomore and was a second-teamer as a junior before closing her career as a first-teamer as a senior when she averaged 17.9 points a game showing 43 percent from the field.
 
Washington signs with the Mustangs after leading Tulsa's Booker T. Washington High School to a regional playoff appearance in 2014-15.
 
The 5-10 forward earned Oklahoma Girls' Basketball Coaches' Association all-state honors as a senior and is set to compete in the Oklahoma Coaches' Association All-Star Game at Oral Roberts' Mabee Center on July 29 as part of the Large School East Team.
 
Washington competed on the club level for the Oklahoma Shock and Tulsa Icons.
 
"Dri is an extremely athletic guard/forward who has an uncanny knack for knowing where the ball is at all times," Johnson said. "She has smooth moves to the rim off the bounce and is a great defender on the other side of the ball.  I am so thrilled to have Dri as a part of our team/family."
 
Midwestern State inked four prep standouts during the early signing period including Elizabeth Cathcart (Spring Branch, Texas/Smithson Valley High School), Alyssa Jones (Oklahoma City, Okla./Southmoore High School), Courtney Kerr (Paradise, Texas/Paradise High School) and McKenna Villegas (Port Lavaca, Texas/Calhoun High School).
 
The Mustangs are coming off of a 23-7 campaign in 2014-15 advancing to the South Central Regionals for the third time in four seasons.
 
 

Name	Pos.	Ht.		Hometown/High School (Previous School)
Rochelle Lauer	G	5-11	Sr.	Avondale, Ariz. / Westview HS (SMU)
Hunter Thomas	F	6-1	Jr.	Stilwell, Kan. / Blue Valley Southwest HS (Johnson County CC)
Jacquar Westbrooks	G	5-7	Jr.	Miami, Fla. / Gulliver Prep (Rollins)
Elizabeth Cathcart	F	5-10	Fr.	Spring Branch, Texas / Smithson Valley HS
Alyssa Jones	G	5-9	Fr.	Oklahoma City, Okla. / Southmoore HS
Courtney Kerr	G	5-8	Fr.	Paradise, Texas / Paradise HS
McKenna Villegas	F	5-11	Fr.	Port Lavaca, Texas / Calhoun HS
Kendriana Washington	F	5-10	Fr.	Tulsa, Okla. / Washington HS