NEW ROCHELLE, NY – Iona College women's basketball head coach Billi Chambers is proud to announce two new additions to the Maroon & Gold family. Paulla Weekes and Gabrielle Joseph will join the Gaels next season, and coach Chambers is enthusiastic about what each can bring to the hardwood.

"I am very excited about the two new additions to our roster in the 2018 class," said Chambers. "If I had to use one word to describe this class, it would be tough."

"Paulla Weekes and Gabby Joseph are two young women who are incredibly competitive, gritty and will fit perfectly into our defensive culture," she continued. "During their recruiting process, I cannot remember seeing them take one play off, even if they were not playing their best game, that particular day."

Paulla Weekes
Paulla Weekes plays for St. Joseph's College School in Toronto, Ontario. She is a balanced offensive player, but Weekes prides herself on her ability to make an impact defensively. Weekes sees herself as someone who can learn from the smallest of mistakes, leading to a mental edge when competing on the floor.

Weekes is coached by her father Paul on both her high school and AAU teams.

In the classroom, Weeks is a three-time honor roll (2015-2017) recipient and recently was given the school's Faith Award.

When asked why she chose Iona, Weeks notes that the support system on campus and within the women's basketball team is strong. She also illustrates that the philosophy and psychology program allowed for an opportunity that she could not pass up.

Weeks has a twin sister who recently committed to attend the University of Central Michigan.

Gabrielle Joseph
Gabrielle Joseph is a three-sport athlete at Notre Dame Catholic High School in Norwalk, CT. She plays basketball, volleyball and competes in track & field. Joseph plays forward for Lancers basketball head coach Eric Demarco, and also lends her talents to the Connecticut Basketball Club, coached by Scott Nails

She was a SWC all-conference, Hearst Media girls basketball all-star, two-time all-state, and All-Patriot league basketball performer. Joseph is part of a basketball family with her cousins who played basketball for Penn State University and the University of Hartford.

Academics are important to Joseph. She cites how one of the major reasons she chose to join Gael Nation is because of Iona's academic environment and classroom structure. She intends to major in sports medicine.

"Paulla and Gabby are both versatile players that love the intangibles," said Chambers. "They take charges, have an eye for rebounding the ball and love to do the dirty work. That type of mentality is going to lend well to adjusting quickly to the college game and being able to contribute immediately on a veteran team next season."

Fans can keep up with the latest news and excitement surrounding Iona women's basketball by following the team on Facebook, Instagram.