May 13, 2003

Duquesne University's head women's basketball coach Dan Durkin has announced the signing of Takneekia Baker (Bladensburg, Md./Elizabeth Seton) to a National Letter of Intent for the 2003-04 season. She is the second recruit to sign with the Dukes.

Baker, a 5-7 guard, averaged 11.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game as a senior and was nominated for the 2003 McDonald's All-America team. Takneekia (pronounced Tah-NEE-key-ah), was also a 2003 All-Met honorable mention. She helped her Elizabeth Seton squad capture the 2000-01 Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) and City titles going 27-3 overall. The squad went 24-8 in 2001-02 and stood #8 on the Washington Post All-Met rankings.

Baker netted a season-best 23 points and posted seven perfect games from the free throw line this past season.

"Takneekia is an excellent student-athlete out of Elizabeth Seton High School, but we found her in an AAU program in Maryland. She played against a lot of great players in that system, which helped us decide she is the one we wanted. She will play the two-guard spot, but can defend at other positions," adds Coach Durkin. "Academically, she is an honor student and graduated in the Top 10% of her class. She will continue the tradition of Duquesne's student-athletes being successful in the academic and athletic environments."

Active in volunteer work, Baker is a tutor at the Richardson Dwellings Community Center.

Baker join's Albert Gallatin's Loui Hall who was inked during the early signing period.

Duquesne Women's Basketball 2003-04 Signees

                   HT    POS PPG RPG Hometown/High School

Loui Hall            6-0   F   30.3    18.5    Masontown, Pa./Albert GallatinTakneekia Baker  5-7    G   11.5    6.0 Bladensburg, Md./Elizabeth Seton