PITTSBURGH – Duquesne head women's basketball coach Dan Burt announced today that Indiana University transfer Kiandra Browne (Montreal, Quebec/Indiana), North Carolina Central transfer Jerni Kiaku (Garner, N.C./North Carolina Central) and freshman Raymi Coueta (Cayenne, French Guiana/Thetford (Quebec) Academy) will be part of the women's basketball program for the 2023-24 season.

Browne, a 6-2 forward, played in 51 games in her first two seasons at Indiana, before injuries limited her to seven games in 2022-23. The Montreal native, who brings extensive international experience to the Dukes' roster, shot .585 from the field as a freshman and sophomore at IU.

"We are excited and fortunate to welcome Kiandra to Duquesne," said Burt. "Kiandra brings a high-level skill set on both sides of the ball. She has been well coached at Indiana - a program that was ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation last season. A fully healthy Kiandra will provide an immediate presence in the paint. She also brings a championship mindset to our program."

Browne, a member of Canada's 2018 FIBA U18 Championships silver medal team, was also part of a gold medal-winning team at the 2017 Canada Summer Games where she averaged 9.6 points and 5.2 rebounds in 23.0 minutes per game.

A two-time Academic All-Big Ten Team member at IU, Browne was rated 75th nationally by ESPN and as the No. 2 player in Canada by Crown Scout Girls following her prep career.

Kiaku, a 5-7 guard, averaged 10.7 points, 2.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game on her way to earning 2022-23 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year honors. She also earned MEAC Third Team and All-Rookie Team mention as the league's top scoring freshman. Kiaku was named MEAC Rookie of the Week six times.

"Jerni had an outstanding freshman year at N.C. Central and we look for her to pick up where she left off this year in the Atlantic 10," said Burt. "Jerni has a high basketball IQ and is very coachable. She is an explosive, fast-twitch guard who can create for herself and others. Jerni is mature, motivated and will be expected to play on the arc for us early in her career."

Kiaku, who scored in double digits 15 times last season, was a 2,240-point scorer in high school.

Coueta has traveled long and far to become a Division I basketball player, leaving her home in Cayenne, French Guiana at age 14 for the Caribbean island of Martinique. She eventually ended up in Quebec City, Quebec where she played for Thetford Academy.

"Raymi's game relies on her high-level athletic ability," said Burt. "An explosive, left-handed guard with good skill, she creates mismatches on the perimeter. She is also an outstanding on ball defender with her strength, quickness and vocal capabilities. We expect Raymi to challenge our guard play the moment she steps on campus."


DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S BASKETBALL 2023-24 NEWCOMERS
 

Name	Pos	Ht.	Cl.	Hometown/High School (transfer)
Kiandra Browne	F	6-2	Jr.	Montreal, Quebec / St.-Laurent (Indiana)
Jerni Kiaku	G	5-7	So.	Garner, N.C. / Garner Magnet HS (North Carolina Central)
Raymi Coueta	G	5-8	Fr.	Cayenne, French Guiana / Thetford (Quebec) Academy

Pronunciation Guide
KEY-ahn-dra
jer-nee  KEY-ah-KU
RAY-me  Koo-eh-tah