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Xavier University Athletics
Coach Chambers Signs Three Players to National Letters of Intent
11.09.23 | Women's Basketball
The three players will join the Musketeers ahead of the 2024-25 season
CINCINNATI - First-year head women's basketball coach Billi Chambers announced the signing of three players to national letters of intent on Thursday. The three players will join the Musketeers ahead of the 2024-25 season.
2024-25 SIGNEES
MacKenzie Givens - G/F - Cincinnati, Ohio (Princeton HS)
Meri Kanerva - G - Espoo, Finland - (Mäkelänrinne Upper Secondary School)
Lucía Martínez López - G/F - Oviedo, Spain (Colegio Internacional San Fernando)
MACKENZIE GIVENS
Plays at Princeton HS (Greater Miami Conference) for Dee Davis, the defending OHSAA Division I State Champions… is a four-year letterwinner in basketball and track… holds the school record for points in a game at Walnut Hills High School… earned OHSAA Division I All-State Honorable Mention Team honors in 2022-23… averaged 13.1 points per game in 2022-23 for Cincinnati Walnut Hills HS… earned team MVP honors… was a two-time Ohio All-Star selection… advanced to the OHSAA State Championships in track in 2022 and 2023 (200-meter dash).
QUOTING COACH CHAMBERS
"We're excited to lock up a local product in our second signing class. MacKenzie plays on one of the best high school teams and AAU teams (Legends U) in the state of Ohio and competes against some of the best talent in the area in practice and during the regular season. She's lengthy, quick and will make an immediate impact once she steps on campus next year."
MERI KANERVA
Averaged 10.8 points, 4.6 assists and 2.9 rebound per game for her team from 2019-23… was named the Most Improved Player for her league in 2022-23… led her team to a 20-12 record in 2021-22… led her team to League Bronze and Finnish Cup Silver finishes in 2021-22… led her team to a 21-14 record in 2022-23… led her team to League Silver and Finnish Cup Gold finishes in 2022-23.
QUOTING COACH CHAMBERS
"Xavier has a number of former letterwinners from Finland who were standouts on the court and we're excited to add another one to the list in Meri. She has a lot of international playing experience that will translate well to the BIG EAST Conference. She has a high motor and is a relentless defender… we can't wait to have her on campus."
LUCÍA MARTÍNEZ LÓPEZ
Competed in the Spanish Championships with Asturias Regional Team… played in the Spanish Clubs Championships Junior 3x3 Tournament in 2022-23, placing fourth… competed with the U16 Spanish National Team helping the team to a second-place finish… helped her team qualify for the European Championships… led her team to Unibasket Logroño first-place finish in 2022-23… played for the following club teams: Oviedo Club Baloncesto (2010-20), TerrÁlfas (2020-21), Campus Promete (2021-22), CD Unibasket (2022-23), and Agrupación Deportiva Baloncesto Avilés (2023-24).
QUOTING COACH CHAMBERS
"Lucía is the third player from Spain that we've added to our roster since the spring of 2023. Similar to Meri, her international playing experience will help us immediately as we compete against some of the best teams in the country night in and night out during BIG EAST action."
2024-25 SIGNEES
MacKenzie Givens - G/F - Cincinnati, Ohio (Princeton HS)
Meri Kanerva - G - Espoo, Finland - (Mäkelänrinne Upper Secondary School)
Lucía Martínez López - G/F - Oviedo, Spain (Colegio Internacional San Fernando)
MACKENZIE GIVENS
Plays at Princeton HS (Greater Miami Conference) for Dee Davis, the defending OHSAA Division I State Champions… is a four-year letterwinner in basketball and track… holds the school record for points in a game at Walnut Hills High School… earned OHSAA Division I All-State Honorable Mention Team honors in 2022-23… averaged 13.1 points per game in 2022-23 for Cincinnati Walnut Hills HS… earned team MVP honors… was a two-time Ohio All-Star selection… advanced to the OHSAA State Championships in track in 2022 and 2023 (200-meter dash).
QUOTING COACH CHAMBERS
"We're excited to lock up a local product in our second signing class. MacKenzie plays on one of the best high school teams and AAU teams (Legends U) in the state of Ohio and competes against some of the best talent in the area in practice and during the regular season. She's lengthy, quick and will make an immediate impact once she steps on campus next year."
MERI KANERVA
Averaged 10.8 points, 4.6 assists and 2.9 rebound per game for her team from 2019-23… was named the Most Improved Player for her league in 2022-23… led her team to a 20-12 record in 2021-22… led her team to League Bronze and Finnish Cup Silver finishes in 2021-22… led her team to a 21-14 record in 2022-23… led her team to League Silver and Finnish Cup Gold finishes in 2022-23.
QUOTING COACH CHAMBERS
"Xavier has a number of former letterwinners from Finland who were standouts on the court and we're excited to add another one to the list in Meri. She has a lot of international playing experience that will translate well to the BIG EAST Conference. She has a high motor and is a relentless defender… we can't wait to have her on campus."
LUCÍA MARTÍNEZ LÓPEZ
Competed in the Spanish Championships with Asturias Regional Team… played in the Spanish Clubs Championships Junior 3x3 Tournament in 2022-23, placing fourth… competed with the U16 Spanish National Team helping the team to a second-place finish… helped her team qualify for the European Championships… led her team to Unibasket Logroño first-place finish in 2022-23… played for the following club teams: Oviedo Club Baloncesto (2010-20), TerrÁlfas (2020-21), Campus Promete (2021-22), CD Unibasket (2022-23), and Agrupación Deportiva Baloncesto Avilés (2023-24).
QUOTING COACH CHAMBERS
"Lucía is the third player from Spain that we've added to our roster since the spring of 2023. Similar to Meri, her international playing experience will help us immediately as we compete against some of the best teams in the country night in and night out during BIG EAST action."
2025-26 Meet the Musketeers: Lucía Martínez López
Tuesday, September 23
2025-26 Meet the Musketeers: Denise Neves
Saturday, September 20
2025-26 Meet the Musketeers: Payton Richards
Friday, September 19
2025-26 Meet the Musketeers: Penda Dieng
Monday, September 08