DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University women's basketball team has signed two high school student-athletes, Maggie Negaard (Stevens Point, Wis.) and Allie Wooldridge (Center Point, Iowa), to National Letters of Intent for the 2018-19 season, head coach Jennie Baranczyk announced Wednesday, Nov. 8.
 
"We are beyond excited to add Maggie and Allie and their families to our BULLDOG family!" Baranczyk said. "These two make up another class that adds to our chemistry and culture."
 
Negaard (pronounced knee-guard) is a 5-10 guard from Stevens Point, Wis., who is a three-year letterwinner for Stevens Point Area Senior High School. She is a two-time Wisconsin Valley All-Conference selection and was the Wisconsin Valley Conference Player of the Year as a sophomore after averaging 23.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. Negaard, a talented multi-sport athlete, has played basketball and volleyball and ran track during her career for the Panthers. This fall, she joined the tennis team, and helped the team finish as conference and sectional runner-ups and qualified as an individual for the state tournament.
 
"Maggie is a playmaking guard who can pass and shoot," Baranczyk said. "She is a culture player with a multi-sport background who is gritty, plays hard and is resilient."
 
Wooldridge is a 6-1 forward from Center Point, Iowa, who is a three-year letterwinner for Center Point Urbana High School. A three-time WaMaC All-Conference selection, she helped lead the Stormin' Pointers to the 2017 Iowa Class 4A Tournament semifinals and capped the season by being named to the Des Moines Register All-State team. Another multi-sport standout, Wooldridge, plays soccer and volleyball, and been named all-conference multiple times in each sport. She helped the soccer team finish runner-up at the 2017 Iowa Class 1A State Tournament. Wooldridge is from an athletic family as her dad and sister played football and soccer, respectively, for Northern Illinois. Her mom played basketball and softball at Mount Mercy and another sister is on the Kirkwood Community College basketball team.
 
"Allie is a versatile inside-and-out player with great court vision who can play all five positions," Baranczyk said. "She is another multi-sport athlete who comes from an athletic family and she has been to multiple state tournaments in basketball and soccer."
 
Drake opens the 2017-18 season at home against Milwaukee on Friday at 7 p.m. in the opening round of the preseason WNIT.
 
What They Are Saying About The 2018-19 Drake women's basketball signees…
"I am very proud of Maggie on her signing with Drake. I have coached her for five years and know all the work she went through to get back to full strength and to be the player she has become. It is a testament to her being a great kid and hard worker. Maggie is an even better person off the court, who is an excellent student and natural leader. She is a class act and I wish her nothing but the best in the future."
Craig Hawley – Wisconsin Blizzard AAU coach
 
"Maggie is so excited to continue playing basketball at Drake. She talks so highly of the coaching staff and has so much respect for the program and wants to contribute to continued success. Maggie has great leadership, is a hard worker and great teammate who has contributed to our program's success. We are excited for her to be at Drake."
Kraig Terpstra – Stevens Point Area Senior High School Head Coach
 
"Drake is a perfect fit for Allie. She is an unselfish, versatile player that can play inside-and-out. Allie has the ability to bring up the ball. I am excited to see her continue playing at Drake."
Philipe Klett – Center Point Urbana High School Head Coach
 
"I am very excited for Allie to attend Drake. She is a tremendous individual who I have coached since fourth grade and watched her come along so well. Allie is a versatile player that is a hard matchup for opponents with her height and her inside-and-outside shooting ability."
Todd Rogers - Iowa Barnstormers AAU Coach