CHICAGO - Loyola University Chicago head women's basketball coach Sheryl Swoopes and her coaching staff have announced the signing Citiana Negatu (Silver Spring, Md./Blake High School) to a National Letter of Intent. Negatu joins an incoming recruiting class that also includes Grace Goodhart, Brandi Segars, Dakota Vann, and Nieka Wheeler, a transfer from Johnson County Community College.

A versatile 5-foot-9 guard/forward, Negatu joins the Ramblers following a successful career at Blake High School in Silver Spring, Md. As a junior, Negatu developed into one of the main offensive weapons for head coach Patti Gilmore, averaging just over 13 points per game for a Bengals team that advanced to the Maryland 4A North Region Section II semifinals.

Negatu, who applied her trade on the club level for the DC Heat, enjoyed a strong senior season for the Bengals, upping her scoring average by a point, en route to a First Team All-Sentinel selection. Following another trip to the Maryland 4A North Regional Section II semifinals after posting a 12-10 mark during the regular season, she was selected as a member of the Maryland All-Star Team for the Girls Mason Dixon Elite Game at the 2015 Roundball Classic in Hagerstown, Md. Negatu poured in a team-high 14 points and came away with four rebounds in the contest to lead her team to a 111-95 victory over the Pennsylvania All Stars. Following the win, she was selected as the game's Most Valuable Player.

"We are thrilled to add Citiana to our Rambler family," said Swoopes. "She brings athleticism, toughness, competitiveness and a will to win. Her length and quickness will allow her to play multiple positions for us on both ends of the floor in the Valley. I couldn't be more excited about this addition and am looking forward to Citi making an impact right away."

Along with an incoming recruiting class that now sits at five, Loyola is set to return three starters and its top two scorers from last season. The trio of returning starters is highlighted by First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection Taylor Manuel, who is also the league's reigning Newcomer of the Year.