TOWSON, Md. - Three years ago, high school teammates Katrina Wheeler and Shanae Baker-Brice made their decisions about where to attend college. Wheeler was headed to Georgetown while Baker-Brice decided to come to Towson and play for Coach Joe Mathews and the Tigers.

For the start of the 2008-09 season, Wheeler and Baker-Brice were reunited on the basketball floor and the move has paid dividends for the Tiger women's basketball program.  

After having to sit out last season following her transfer, Wheeler has made an immediate impact on the court. In the season opener at Loyola, she knocked down 18 points and just two games later, recorded her first “double-double” as a Tiger.

“It was tough having to sit out for a year, “ said Wheeler. “But I think in the end it was beneficial to me because it allowed me to examine my game and focus on things to work on that would allow me to take my play to the next level.”

Wheeler is averaging nearly a “double-double” for the Tigers this season as she is contributing 10.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. She has recorded 10 “double-double” performances this season, including a stretch of three straight games at the end of January and beginning of February.

Wheeler has scored in double figures 16 times while pulling down double digit rebounds in 11 games. She is currently ranked fifth in the CAA in rebounding (8.7 rpg) and seventh in blocked shots (1.5 bpg).

“I think a lot of my success has to do with Coach Mathews and the staff being willing to work with me and help me work back to this playing level,” said Wheeler.

Wheeler and Baker-Brice have reunited on the court and found chemistry that only a pair of teammates having played together since they were seven could have. The pair has combined to score 653 points and pull down 304 rebounds.

“Shanae and I have been playing together since we were about seven years old and it's cool to see that even though we were apart for a while, the chemistry is still there,” commented Wheeler. “We strive to make each other better and bring something else to the game.”

“It also makes me want to work harder because I know if I don't do something right on the court, she's going to get on me and vice versa,” added Wheeler.

As Wheeler and the Tigers enter the final three game stretch of the regular season, they are looking for a smooth ending to what has been a roller-coaster ride in the CAA this year.

“We understand that these finally three games are so important as we push for one of the top four spots in the CAA heading into the tournament,” said Wheeler.