ECU Athletic Media Relations

GREENVILLE — Head coach of the East Carolina University women’s basketball team Heather Macy announced the addition of Oregon State transfer Khadidja Toure to the program’s signing class.

Toure must spend one year in academic residency at ECU, but will play for the Pirates beginning with the 2015-16 season and have two years of eligibility remaining.

“Khadidja is an explosive playmaker who makes everyone around her better,” Macy said. “She has outstanding athleticism combined with a cerebral approach to the game, the ability to be a lockdown defender and is committed to doing whatever it takes to win. She possesses high character, toughness and unselfishness, and embodies everything a student-athlete should.”

The 5-foot-9 guard played in 49 games during her two seasons with the Beavers, which included a pair of appearances in last year’s NCAA Tournament. She shot over 40 percent from the floor during her sophomore season in 2013-14, while averaging 3.1 points and 1.3 assists per game in a reserve role. The Kennewick, Wash., native played some of her best basketball in conference play, which included a career-high seven assists in just 16 minutes of floor time against Oregon. She also had eight points and pulled down a season-high four rebounds against USC, before scoring eight points versus Washington and nine against Arizona State.

As a freshman in 2012-13, Toure appeared in 19 games and made five starts, while averaging 2.6 points, 1.3 rebounds and one assist in just 11.2 minutes per game. She made the most of a career-high 25 minutes played against No. 4 Stanford, handing out a season-best four assists.

Her abilities were showcased on the national stage before her collegiate career when she played for Steve Klees’ Northwest Blazers in Spokane, Wash., whom East Carolina’s coaching staff refers to as one of the most selfless and respected AAU coaches in the country.

Toure played under Tammy Hutchison at Kamiakin High School, where she was a two-time Washington Class 3-A Associated Press All-State First Team selection. She was named Columbia Basin Big Nine 3-A Player-of-the-Year in 2011 and 2012 while garnering both All-Area First Team and All-Area Defensive First Team honors for three-straight years. She was a three-star recruit, according to ESPN HoopGurlz in 2012. Toure was also a star track runner at Kamiakin and won state titles in both the 100-meter dash and 100-meter hurdles.

Toure is be the seventh overall transfer to join the Pirates next fall, complementing a class that already includes Gabrielle Houston (Georgia Tech), Marina Laramie (Indiana State), Khadijah Ellison (Chipola College), DeVaughn Gray (Northeastern Oklahoma A&M), Chelsie Keys (Coffeyville Community College) and I’Tiana Taylor (Weatherford College).