WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – West Liberty University women's basketball coach Kyle Cooper was excited to see the two high school seniors in his incoming recruiting class turn in spectacular senior seasons and is looking forward to adding them to the Hilltopper mix for the 2024-25 season.

    Sophie Nichols, a 5-11 shooting guard from Ripley (W.Va.) High School, and Katie Lucarelli, a 5-7 combo guard from Baldwin High School in Pittsburgh, Pa., put up big numbers for their respective schools this past winter. Both players received multiple awards and were selected to postseason all-star games.

    "We're very proud of the way Katie and Sophie finished their high school careers and can't wait to have them here with us to officially begin their collegiate journeys, Cooper said. "Along with all of the athletic honors and accolades they earned on the court, both young women are outstanding students who positively impacted their respective high schools in so many ways off the court. There's no doubt Katie and Sophie will be great additions to our program and our institution here on the hilltop."

    Nichols was a 3-time first-team All-West Virginia Class AAA selection during a stellar career at Ripley High School. The leading scorer in Viking history with 1,611 career points, she set the school's single-game scoring record last season with 50 points in a 70-66 overtime win against Nitro. Nichols averaged 22.2 ppg. and was MVP of the West Virginia North-South Game, scoring a game-high 21 points in the South's 57-55 win. She hit double-figures in the Ohio-West Virginia BACF All-Star Game and was the 3-point champion at both events.

    Sophie is the daughter of Steve and Jennifer Nichols. She plans to major in Health Care Administration with a minor in Business Administration at West Liberty.

    Lucarelli was a 4-year standout in the backcourt at Baldwin High School in Pittsburgh. No stranger to the WLU program as the younger sister of current Hilltopper guard Anna Lucarelli, Katie was a team captain and double-figure scorer as a sophomore, junior and senior for the Fighting Highlanders. A 3-time All-Big 56 and WPIAL Class 6A All-Section selection, she capped her career by being selected to play in the prestigious Roundball Classic.

    The daughter of Alisa and Joe Lucarelli, Katie plans to pursue a Business major at West Liberty.