Edmonds Announces Addition of Louann Battiston and Myah Hazelton
4/18/2025 10:54:00 AM | Women's Basketball
HOUSTON – Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds announced the additions of Louann Battiston as a transfer from Duke and Myah Hazelton as a transfer from Virginia Tech. Battiston joins the women's basketball team as a 5-5 guard with two years of eligibility remaining, while Hazelton arrives as a 6-4 center with three years of eligibility remaining.
A native of Montigny-le-Tilleul, Belgium, Battiston appeared in 12 games during her sophomore campaign with the Blue Devils. She dropped a career-high eight points in the NCAA Tournament First Round game against Lehigh.
Battiston made back-to-back NCAA Tournament trips with Duke, advancing to the Sweet 16 her freshman year and the Elite 8 this past year. The Blue Devils claimed the ACC Tournament title this season.
Prior to Duke, Battiston played for the Liege Panthers in the Belgian League and, most recently, played four seasons for ESBVA-LM in France, helping lead her team to the 2023 LFB Championship. She was one of 40 girls and women invited to the inaugural 2023 Basketball Without Borders Women's Global Camp, earning MVP honors.
"I am thrilled to add Louann to our family," Edmonds said. "Lou is originally from Belgium and has proudly represented her country on the national team since 2021. She is a dynamic combo guard with great court vision, is crafty when getting downhill to the rim, but also has the ability to shoot the three incredibly well. Most recently, she is coming to us from an ACC Championship winning and Elite 8 team and I truly believe those experiences are going to propel her into great success here at Rice. She is a true competitor and I have no doubt she will have an immediate impact on both ends of the floor for our team. Go Owls!"
A native of Baltimore, Md., Hazelton appeared in eight games during her freshman campaign with the Hokies. She made her collegiate debut against UNCW, where Hazelton scored her first career points in a four-point outing.
Hazelton made a postseason appearance with Virginia Tech, appearing in the team's two WBIT games against North Carolina A&T and Texas Tech. She recorded three rebounds in the team's win over the Aggies. Overall, the Hokies were 19-13 (9-9 ACC).
Prior to Virginia Tech, Hazelton played club ball for Philly Rise EYBL. She was a part of the first team to win an EYBL Nike Basketball Championship by going undefeated throughout the entire season.
"I am so excited to add Myah to our family," Edmonds said. "At 6'4, she not only provides much-needed depth in the front court, but will also fit seamlessly into our up-tempo pace and our four-out, one-in system in the half court. Myah has all the intangibles we look for in a post player: she is incredibly athletic, has great length, runs the floor very well, can score inside and out, and will provide tremendous rim protection to our defense. I have no doubt that Myah's ACC experience and her three years of eligibility will be a tremendous asset to our team. I truly feel like Myah's best basketball is ahead of her and my staff and I are thrilled to help her continue to develop during her career here. Go Owls!"
Battiston and Hazelton join Jordin Blackmon (Inglewood, Calif./Bishop Montgomery), Mylee Guinn (Frisco, Texas/Prestonwood Christian Academy), Hanna Hilberth (Stockholm, Sweden/Lulea Gymansieskolor) and Skyla Tuthill (Summerville, S.C./Ashley Ridge HS) as part of Edmonds' 2024-25 recruiting class.
A native of Montigny-le-Tilleul, Belgium, Battiston appeared in 12 games during her sophomore campaign with the Blue Devils. She dropped a career-high eight points in the NCAA Tournament First Round game against Lehigh.
Battiston made back-to-back NCAA Tournament trips with Duke, advancing to the Sweet 16 her freshman year and the Elite 8 this past year. The Blue Devils claimed the ACC Tournament title this season.
Prior to Duke, Battiston played for the Liege Panthers in the Belgian League and, most recently, played four seasons for ESBVA-LM in France, helping lead her team to the 2023 LFB Championship. She was one of 40 girls and women invited to the inaugural 2023 Basketball Without Borders Women's Global Camp, earning MVP honors.
"I am thrilled to add Louann to our family," Edmonds said. "Lou is originally from Belgium and has proudly represented her country on the national team since 2021. She is a dynamic combo guard with great court vision, is crafty when getting downhill to the rim, but also has the ability to shoot the three incredibly well. Most recently, she is coming to us from an ACC Championship winning and Elite 8 team and I truly believe those experiences are going to propel her into great success here at Rice. She is a true competitor and I have no doubt she will have an immediate impact on both ends of the floor for our team. Go Owls!"
A native of Baltimore, Md., Hazelton appeared in eight games during her freshman campaign with the Hokies. She made her collegiate debut against UNCW, where Hazelton scored her first career points in a four-point outing.
Hazelton made a postseason appearance with Virginia Tech, appearing in the team's two WBIT games against North Carolina A&T and Texas Tech. She recorded three rebounds in the team's win over the Aggies. Overall, the Hokies were 19-13 (9-9 ACC).
Prior to Virginia Tech, Hazelton played club ball for Philly Rise EYBL. She was a part of the first team to win an EYBL Nike Basketball Championship by going undefeated throughout the entire season.
"I am so excited to add Myah to our family," Edmonds said. "At 6'4, she not only provides much-needed depth in the front court, but will also fit seamlessly into our up-tempo pace and our four-out, one-in system in the half court. Myah has all the intangibles we look for in a post player: she is incredibly athletic, has great length, runs the floor very well, can score inside and out, and will provide tremendous rim protection to our defense. I have no doubt that Myah's ACC experience and her three years of eligibility will be a tremendous asset to our team. I truly feel like Myah's best basketball is ahead of her and my staff and I are thrilled to help her continue to develop during her career here. Go Owls!"
Battiston and Hazelton join Jordin Blackmon (Inglewood, Calif./Bishop Montgomery), Mylee Guinn (Frisco, Texas/Prestonwood Christian Academy), Hanna Hilberth (Stockholm, Sweden/Lulea Gymansieskolor) and Skyla Tuthill (Summerville, S.C./Ashley Ridge HS) as part of Edmonds' 2024-25 recruiting class.
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