CEDAR FALLS - The University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team added some much-needed athleticism Wednesday on the first day of the spring signing period.

Mercedees Morgan, a highly regarded swing player from Bellevue (Neb.) East High School, has signed a national letter of intent to play for coach Tanya Warren's Panthers.

"We are very excited to add a young lady of Mercedees' caliber," Warren noted. "She is a well-rounded player who will provide some size and additional athleticism on the perimeter.

"She has the ability to score inside and outside."

Morgan averaged 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists per game as a senior. She earned second-team all-state laurels as a senior, after earning a first-team nod as a junior. She scored 1,094 total points in a decorated prep career at Bellevue East, leading her team to the state tournament in each of the last two seasons.

"I think Mercedees and UNI are a great fit," Bellevue East coach Scott Jensen said. "Mercedees is an extremely intelligent and athletic player, and she will fit in well with Coach Warren's up-and-coming program."

The Panthers finished 11-19 last season and lost in the first round of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament.

Morgan caps a four-player, 2009-10 recruiting class for Warren's squad. Forwards Jessica McDowell of AGWSR and Amber Kirschbaum of Spirit Lake, along with Des Moines East guard Tiffanie Porter, signed with UNI back in November.

In a related story, UNI officials also recently learned that junior post player Alexa Mennen has decided to end her college basketball career. A Dumont native, Mennen started 17 games last winter, averaging 2.8 points per game and 2.9 rebounds. The Hampton-Dumont graduate was a three-time all-stater in high school.