DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University women's basketball team signed five high school student-athletes to National Letters of Intent for the 2021-22 season, Suzie Glazer Burt Drake head coach Jennie Baranczyk announced Wednesday, Nov. 11. Joining Drake next season will be, Katie Dinnebier (West Des Moines, Iowa), Ashley Iiams (Ames, Iowa), Anna Miller (Rochester, Minn.), Hannah Nilges (Jefferson City, Mo.) and Maggie Phipps (Ankeny, Iowa).
 
"We are really excited to add Katie, Ashley, Anna, Hannah and Maggie!" Baranczyk said. "They have already connected so well as a class and it is obvious they will continue to enhance the chemistry in our program. They bring such a variety of skill sets and are all difference makers. They also do an incredible job in the classroom. We are so lucky to have them join the entire Drake family."
 
Dinnebier is a 5-8 point guard for Waukee High School. She helped lead the Warriors to a runner-up finish at the 2020 Iowa Class 5A State Tournament. Dinnebier averaged 16.6 points, 4.2 steals and 4.0 assists per game her junior season, helping her earn first-team all-state, all-district and all-conference honors. She is a member of the All Iowa Attack club.
 
"Katie is so tough," Baranczyk said. "She has a high basketball IQ and is a true floor general. She is a proven winner and success always tends to find her."
 
Iiams, a 6-1 small forward, is a multi-sport athlete in basketball and swimming for Ames High School. She averaged 13.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game as a junior helping her receive third-team all-state and all-conference accolades. Iiams is a member of the All Iowa Attack club.
 
"Ashley is an all-around, versatile player," Baranczyk said. "She is a skilled shooter and has an innate ability to see the floor. She has an incredible love for the game and a passion to work hard."
 
Miller, a 6-3 forward, is a multi-sport athlete in basketball and volleyball for Rochester Mayo High School. She averaged 17.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.4 blocks and 1.7 steals per game her junior year to earn honorable mention all-state, all-conference and all-area honors. She served as a team captain of the volleyball team during her senior season. Miller is a member of the North Tartan club.
 
"Anna has great size and the ability to really run the floor well," Baranczyk said. "She is a difference maker on the defensive end and has a knack for rebounding. She is a lifelong learner that will continue to grow every day that she is here."
 
Nilges is a 5-7 shooting guard for Jefferson City High School. She averaged 11.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game her junior season helping her collect Missouri Class 5A All-District honors. Nilges is a three-year letterwinner who helped Jefferson City finish second at the 2019 Missouri Class 5A State Tournament. She is a member of the Missouri Phenom club.
 
"Hannah is another tough guard that plays with so much passion," Baranczyk said. "She can shoot the basketball and has the ability to put her teammates in incredible positions. Hannah just embodies the culture of this program in all she does."
 
The final member of the class is Phipps, a 5-11 guard, for Ankeny Centennial High School. She played her first three years of high school basketball for North Polk High School, which finished second at the Iowa Class 3A State Tournament her sophomore and junior year. Phipps averaged 16.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game her junior season helping earn first-team all-state, all-district and all-conference honors. She is a member of the All Iowa Attack club.

"Maggie is a relentless worker that just wants to get better every day," Baranczyk said. "She is a versatile scorer that has incredible range. She has been 'all in' since the day she said yes to Drake."


 What They Are Saying About The 2021-22 Drake women's basketball signees…
"Anna has been a tremendous asset to our program over the past two years leading us in points, rebounds, steals and blocks while placing second in assists. We're looking forward to getting Anna for one more season before she heads to Drake. As good as Anna has been for us, I truly believe she is just starting to scratch the surface of her potential and I am looking forward to watching her grow and develop with the great coaching staff at Drake." - Ryan Carpenter, Head Coach, Rochester Mayo High School
 
"Anna's ability to run the floor is one of her greatest attributes. Her length and agility contribute to her offensive game as well as a being a Division I shot blocker. Anna played against higher ranked athletes throughout this past summer and often surpassed her opponent in every column of the stat sheet!" – Bill Larson, North Tartan Director
 
"Hannah has been a pleasure and privilege to coach, both as a player and a person. She has a passion for the game that hasn't diminished, but continues to grow. Hannah hasn't taken her gift of natural ability for granted and worked countless hours to get better. She is a high fundamental player with a high basketball IQ and a knack for making the big play or hitting a big shot when needed. She will be a great fit for Drake as her qualities as a person are equally as impressive as her skills as a player which exemplifies what a Drake women's basketball player is all about!" – Kay Foster, Head Coach, Jefferson City High School
 
"I think everyone in central Missouri is excited to see Hannah sign with Drake. She has put in an enormous amount of work and effort to become the great player she is. Even more impressive is her A+ high character and in academics. We are very proud of Hannah and cannot wait to follow her career at Drake!" – Greg Logsdon, Head Coach, Missouri Phenom
 
"Katie is as good of a point guard as I've ever coached who understands the game and gets the job done and is a good defender. She is tough as nails and works as hard as anyone and won't back down."
 
"Ashley is stretch 4 who is a great shooter who stretches the defense out and has competed against some of the best players in the country. She is another good defender who can push people around inside."
 
"Maggie is another really good player with strong upside. She is a very tough wing player at 5-11, who goes hard to basket and can shoot it and is a really good scoring threat."
 
"Katie, Ashley and Maggie are quality young ladies. They are each very strong academically and will be great ambassadors of Drake University. They have each been a part of winning programs and love to win. I'm delighted all three are heading to Drake." - Dickson Jensen – All Iowa Attack President (coached Dinnebier, Iiams and Phipps)
 
"Katie is gritty and very determined as evident how she handled the pressure after tearing her ACL as a freshman. Watching her dedication to return to the court and come back stronger I knew she was a determined and driven competitor. I'm so proud of Katie and all her accomplishments. She enjoys the challenge of competing against top competition and I'm excited to see her go on to Drake and continue competing against the top MVC players." - Chris Guess, Head Coach, Waukee High School
 
"Ashley is a dynamic player who has every offensive tool in the game of basketball. She is unselfish and shares the ball incredibly well, almost to a fault. Ashley is a fantastic leader for her team." - Joel Sullivan, Head Coach, Ames High School
 
"Drake is getting the complete package with Maggie, on-and-off the basketball court. She has a stellar work ethic that impacts her teammates and great leadership skills. On the court her versatility is impressive – deep range from the three, skill and strength to get to the rim and the ability to score inside. She also plays well off the ball. Her future as a Bulldog is bright!" – Scott DeJong, Head Coach, Ankeny Centennial High School