DENVER - Head coach Kerry Cremeans announced the signing of Sydney Koel on Monday. The Sioux Falls, S.D. native will join the University of Denver women's basketball team this fall for the upcoming 2016-17 season.

Koel will enter the year as a junior after having spent the past two seasons at Northeast Community College, where she earned all-region honorable-mention honors from the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) after averaging 11.4 points per game and 5.4 rebounds last year.

"We are thrilled to add Sydney to our DU family," Cremeans said. "She brings size and length to our forward position, as well as depth to our overall team, which allows us to play an up-tempo style. Sydney is hungry to be the best student-athlete that she can be and help our team be successful. Her work ethic and high character were a perfect fit to our program and the University of Denver."

Prior to playing at NECC, the 6-foot-1 forward was a four-year standout at Washington High School in Sioux Falls. Koel was a two-time all-conference honorable-mention choice while with the Warriors. The former Washington High graduate also helped deliver a AA State Championship as a senior in 2014. She was also part of a runner-up team her sophomore season.

Koel also made the all-tourney team during here senior campaign in 2014 for Washington High.

The Pioneers will return to the hardwood in the fall of 2016.

For more information, please visit denverpioneers.com. Purchasing tickets for the upcoming year can be found right HERE.

- JOIN THE DENVER PIONEER NATION -

Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 17 of Denver's NCAA Division I sports.

Like Denver Pioneers and DU Women's Basketball on Facebook

Follow @DU_Pioneersand @DU_WHoops on Twitter

Follow @duwhoopson Instagram