Cross Adds Kristen Kluempers To 2008-2009 Roster

Murray State women's head basketball coach Rob Cross has announced the signing of Kristen Kluempers, a 6'2" forward from Fishers High School in Fishers, Ind.

"Kristen Kluempers is first and foremost an outstanding person and student," Cross said. "She is an honors student with a near perfect GPA and will fit in nicely in the Racer Family."

Kluempers signed with Marshall during the early signing period but was granted a full release from her National Letter of Intent, allowing her to sign with the Racers and be eligible to play immediately.

As a junior, Kluempers was part of the inaugural group to open the new Fishers High School. Fishers was put to the test early, as their schedules for Kluempers' junior and senior seasons rated in the top-10 toughest in the state by Sagarin. Despite that, Kluempers led Fishers to a conference championship with a 10-0 mark in 4A competition, the largest basketball class in Indiana. Her conference, the Hoosier Crossroads Conference, was rated the third-best conference in all of Indiana. Kluempers hit 12 straight free throws in the 4th quarter to help Fishers to a come-from-behind conference victory against Brownsburg, and played most of the second half against highly-ranked Lafayette Jeff with a broken finger, but still managed to score nine points and grab eight rebounds after halftime.

Fishers defeated Hamilton Southestern at Southeastern to win the conference. Hamilton Southeastern had not lost a game in conference since 2002 and went 9-1 this year, their only loss to Fishers. Fishers ended their magical run by losing to eventual state champion Carmel, whom they had beaten the previous year to knock them out of the state sectional.

Despite playing much of her senior season with a broken finger on her shooting hand, Kluempers played in every game and averaged nine points and nine rebounds a game, to go along with 2.2 blocks per game. An All-Conference Honorable Mention selection, Kluempers shot 55 percent from the field and 84.1 percent from the free throw line. Kluempers was named by the Indianapolis Star as an All-State Honorable Mention, and earned an Indiana Top 60 All-Star tryout.

In the classroom, Kluempers ranked in the top-10 in her class with a 3.96 GPA, and will major in nursing at MSU. Kluempers also received the Senior Athletic Award Honor, given to top senior in each sport.

Kluempers has played in the AAU circuits the past five seasons, playing the last three with Team Indiana, as well as playing U-14 and U-13 with Mohr Magic. During the U-17 season, Kluempers averaged 14.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks per contest, shooting 82 percent from the free throw line.

Kluempers' sister, Lindsey, has played at Eastern Illinois the past three seasons and will be a senior in the fall.

"Kristen will give us a physical presence in the paint and added depth at the post position," Cross said. "She has a great understanding of the game and comes from a basketball family. Her older sister has played in our conference at another university for the past three years so she is familar with what it takes to compete at this level. We are very excited to be able to add a student-athlete of her caliber to this years recruiting class at such a late date."

Kluempers is the fifth player signed in the 2008 class for the Racers, joining Kayla Lowe (Pikeville, Ky.), Rachael Isom (Cleveland Tenn.), Jana Roney (Union City, Tenn.), and Mallory Schwab (Martinsville, Ind.). All five will be freshmen for the 2008-2009 season.

Murray State University Athletics

Related News

Related Videos