POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – The Marist women's basketball team and head coach Brian Giorgis have announced the addition of Grace Vander Weide. A transfer from Missouri State, Vander Weide will start classes on Tuesday and begin serving her NCAA mandated year in residence.

Vander Weide will become eligible to play following the completion of the Fall 2017 semester. After the 2017-18 season, Vander Weide will have two additional years of eligibility with the Red Foxes.

Grace Vander Weide – 5-11 / Guard – West Des Moines, Iowa / Valley High / Missouri State

Vander Weide saw time in 25 games as a freshman, averaging 9.1 minutes per contest. She ended the year with 40 points, 31 rebounds, 21 assists and nine steals. Vander Weide was named to the Athletic Director's Academic Honor Roll for the Fall 2015 and Spring 2016 semesters during her time at Missouri State.

“Grace will provide us with an excellent presence in the backcourt and even at small forward,” said coach Giorgis. “She gives us length at the point and at the shooting guard spot. She can shoot it and penetrate. Grace was one of our top recruits a couple years ago and we're happy to have her in the Marist family.”

At the high school level, Vander Weide started four seasons at Valley High as both a point guard and a wing, and was ranked as high as the No. 1 recruit in Iowa by both Rivals.com and Iowa Preps Vander Weide was named the Iowa Class 5A Player of the Year and was a first-team all-state pick as a senior after averaging 18 points a game.