ANDERSON, S.C. -- Anderson head women's basketball coach Jim Brunelli has announced the addition of eight signees who will help the Trojans defend the school's Conference Carolinas tournament championship, starting with the 2009-10 season. Coming off a tournament championship and an NCAA appearance, Coach Brunelli looked to depth and athletic ability to his team. Joining the Trojan family are Breonda Shannon, Ashley Thornton, Alissa Diaz, Amanda Parris, Maci Siniard, Lauren Beeson, Demika Holt and walk-on Brittany Meilinger. Shannon, from Eau Claire High School in Columbia, S.C., is a 5-foot-10 forward who averaged 8.1 points and six rebounds while playing for one of the top teams in the Palmetto State last season as Coach Precious Caldwell's Shamrocks posted a 22-3 record in 2008-09. "Breonda is a versatile young lady who can play on the block as well as face up from the perimeter," Brunelli said. "Her athletic ability will allow her to make plays on both ends of the court. I am very pleased to get such a high-quality local talent." Thornton, a 5-foot-2 combo guard out of Jacksonville, N.C., played for Monique Guidry's White Oak High School Lady Vikings, averaging 14 points and knocking down an impressive 45 treys on the season. "Ashley is a great get for both the University and our program. "Brunelli added. "She is very competitive and will provide much-needed depth at point guard. She is a triple threat because of her ability to drive to the hoop, get others involved and shoot the three. She is ideal for our system." A 5-foot-10 guard, Diaz, is a multi-faceted double-figure scorer who averaged 19 points, 9.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 3.4 steals per game for Coral Springs Christian Academy in Coral Springs, Fla. last season. Diaz connected on 44.2 percent of her shots from the field, helping lead the Lady Crusaders to a 14-10 record. "Alissa is an all-purpose guard who can play the point, the two and small forward positions well," Brunelli noted. "She is a slasher who likes to go to the basket, but is also skilled enough to face up and shoot the three." Parris and Siniard both played their prep hoops in Rome, Ga., with the 5-foot-7 Parris playing point guard for Armuchee High School and the 6-foot Siniard manning the post for nearby Model High School. Parris, a four-year lettterwinner, holds the Indians' school record for free-throw accuracy (87%) and averaged nine points, five assists and four steals. Siniard averaged 10 points and eight rebounds for Coach Sally Echols' Blue Devils last season. "Amanda will add depth to the point position. Her work ethic is contagious and her team skills are very special. And Maci comes from a very successful high school program. She's a strong player who runs the floor well, can rebound, defend and can score with her back to the basket or facing up," Brunelli noted of the duo. Beeson, a 5-foot-7 shooting guard from Guilford Tech in Winston-Salem, N.C., played her prep basketball at High Point Central and saw action in 21 games as part of the Wingate Bulldogs' squad that advanced to the 2007-08 NCAA Division II Elite Eight as champions of the South Atlantic Region. Beeson then went on to average 17 points and 14 rebounds for the first-ever GTCC Lady Titans basketball team that finished with a 20-6 overall record and tied for first place in the Carolinas Junior College Conference. "Lauren is a sensational athlete who can do a little of everything and do it very well," Brunelli said. "She brings a lot of experience and leadership to this squad." A 5-foot-5 guard from perennial powerhouse Butler Community College in Kansas, Holt played as a freshman at Arkansas-Fort Smith before moving on to Butler. The Jefferson City, Tenn. native played in 28 games with the Grizzlies, averaging 4.4 points. "Demika will provide depth at the guard position and will be an important part of our three point attack. She has deep range with a quick release which will make her hard to defend." Meilinger is a 5-6 guard from Hampton Park High School in Greenville, S.C., who shot 52.9 percent as a senior for Bruce Mizell's Panthers. "Brittany is a hard worker who brings energy and enthusiasm to this team," Brunelli added. "I am very pleased with my first recruiting class," Brunell concluded. "We addressed all our needs on the court and these young ladies will make an immediate impact in our program. They, in addition to our returning players, will compete for another conference championship. I am also very pleased to have found exceptional student-athletes who have strived for excellence both in the classroom and on the court." The Trojans tip off their season Monday, Nov. 2, with an exhibition at Clemson.