Women's Basketball Inks Three To National Letters of Intent

Pongonis, Fitzpatrick and Gomez Set to Join Hawks in 2013-14

The Hawks announced Jessica Pongonis, Kathleen Fitzpatrick and Geena Gomez have signed National Letters of Intent during the early signing period to attend Saint Joseph's University next year.

Nov. 27, 2012

PHILADELPHIA - Saint Joseph's women's basketball announced that Jessica Pongonis, Kathleen Fitzpatrick and Geena Gomez have signed National Letters of Intent during the early signing period to attend Saint Joseph's University next year.

Leading Hamilton Southeastern High School to a #1 ranking in Indiana to start this season, Pongonis has been a key fixture in the post for the Royals all four seasons. An efficient shooter, the 6-foot-2 forward is coming off a junior year in which she averaged 10.5 points per game and shot 58 percent from the field. Guiding Hamilton Southeastern to the 2011-12 Hoosier Crossroads Conference title, Pongonis earned All-Hoosier Crossroads Conference, Hamilton County Sports Honor Team and Indiana Elite Junior All-Star honors. An invitee to the 2010 Midwest Nike Skills Academy, she earned the team's Most improved Award as a freshman and Hustle Award as a sophomore.

A potent threat from distance, Fitzpatrick enters her senior season at the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur as the program's all-time leader in three-pointers (173). As a junior, the 5-foot-9 guard earned Second Team All-InterAc League and All-Delaware County honors after averaging 13.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game, while leading Southeastern Pennsylvania in three-pointers (70). The daughter of SJU Hall of Famer Ellen Fitzpatrick (nee Shields), Kathleen was selected a Third Team All-InterAc League and All-Delaware County honoree as a sophomore and honorable mention as a freshman.

A three-time All-League honoree, Gomez made an immediate impact as a freshman at Edison High School. A First Team All-State selection as a rookie, she paced the Chargers with 15.7 points, 6.5 assists and 4.2 steals per game. The 5-foot-9 guard followed with equally prolific seasons, leading her team to the California Intercollegiate Federation Championship as a sophomore and the OC Shoot-Out title as a junior. A participant at the 2011 USA U-16 National Team trials, Gomez averaged 17.5 points, 9.7 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 3.4 steals per game as a junior. The three-year starter at point, she enters her senior season having already set the Edison record for assists in a game with 16 last year.

"We are excited to welcome Jess, Kathleen and Geena to our Saint Joseph's family," said SJU head coach Cindy Griffin. "The are great fits for our program in that the bring scoring, defense and high basketball IQ."

Saint Joseph's (3-2) will lose seniors Ashley Prim, Shelby Smith, Chatilla van Grinsven, Mireia Vila to graduation in May 2013.