TOLEDO, Ohio – University of Toledo head coach Tricia Cullop announced the addition of Cassandra Colon (Philadelphia, Pa. – Mastery South Charter School/Community College of Philadelphia) and Sammi Mikonowicz (Rossford, Ohio – Rossford) to the women's basketball program on Monday. Colon, who will have two years of eligibility remaining, and Mikonowicz will become the fifth and sixth newcomers to join the Rockets' in the fall of 2020, respectively.

Colon and Mikonowicz join 6-foot-4 forward/center Caily Bolser (Fairmount, Ind. - Mississinewa), 5-foot-10 guard Khera Goss (Indianapolis, Ind. - Ben Davis), 6-foot-0 wing Halle Idowu (Oak Lawn, Ill. - Harold L. Richards) and 5-foot-8 guard Mickayla Perdue (Springfield, Ohio - Springfield) as part of Toledo's 2020-21 incoming class.

A 5-foot-9 guard, Colon averaged a team-high 22.3 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 3.8 steals in 23 games as a sophomore at the Community College of Philadelphia, a Division III member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). She shot 52.2 percent (198-of-379) from the floor, including 28.0 percent (28-of-100) from three-point land, and 71.2 percent (89-of-125) from the free throw line in 36.0 minutes. Colon scored in double figures on 20 occasions during the year, including a career-best 41 points against Delaware County on Dec. 10. She also totaled at least 20 points 16 times.
 
For her efforts on the hardwood, Colon was named first-team All-Region XIX and the Eastern Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (EPAC) Player of the Year for a second-straight season.

A two-time academic all-league performer, Colon helped lead the Lions to a 17-6 overall record, including a perfect 8-0 league mark.

"We're thrilled Cassandra "Cassie" will be joining our program," said Cullop, a three-time Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year honoree. "She has deep range, finishes well through contact, and consistently crashes the boards. Cassie has good size and strength for a perimeter player and shot above 50 percent from the field. She was a strong leader for her JUCO program and comes from a winning culture both at her JUCO and high school program."

As a freshman, Colon contributed a squad-best 17.6 points, 7.6 caroms, 2.8 helpers, and 3.0 thefts in 26 contests. She connected on 54.2 percent (182-of-336) from the field, including 27.8 percent (27-of-97) from beyond the arc, and 65.3 percent (66-of-101) from the charity stripe in 31.8 minutes. Colon registered at least 10 points on 21 occasions, including a season-high 39 points against Camden County on Dec. 18. She also poured in at least 20 points on 12 occasions. Colon garnered first-team all-region and EPAC Player of the Year accolades.

As a team, the Lions posted a 22-6 overall ledger in 2018-19, including a flawless 10-0 mark in league contests. The 2019 EPAC Tournament champions also finished second in the region with a 15-1 record and were ranked as high as No. 10 nationally.

Colon leaves Community College of Philadelphia with a school-record 970 points over the last two years.

A native of Philadelphia, Colon averaged 20 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists per game as a senior at Mastery South Charter School. She earned first-team All-Public accolades in the Liberty Division in her final prep campaign and was selected the Division MVP, helping her team post a 20-1 record.
 
A 5-foot-9 guard, Mikonowicz averaged a league-high 24.3 points, 11.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.6 blocks and 4.0 steals per game as a senior at nearby Rossford High School. She shot 59 percent from the field, including 30 percent from three-point land, and 71 percent from the charity stripe. Mikonowicz posted 19 double-doubles during the year, set a school-record with 42 points in the inaugural game played in Rossford's new gym, and twice had 17 rebounds in a contest.

Mikonowicz finished the year with a single-season conference record 524 points en route to earning Division II Player of the Year accolades by members of the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association. She was also named Player of the Year in the Northern Buckeye Conference and on the Northwest Ohio D-II All-District team.
 
This work enabled the Bulldogs to reach the first regional berth in program history and close the season at 17-9 overall.  

"When I went to watch Sammi play, I was very impressed," Cullop said. "She must have scored 30 points that night, but more impressive than her points was her hustle, willingness to do whatever her team needed and her leadership. In addition to scoring, Sammi rebounds well and works her tail off defensively. She's also a strong student and everyone I've spoken to speaks so highly of her off the court as well."

As a junior, Mikonowicz contributed 19.7 points and 9.2 rebounds in 2018-19, en route to earning first-team all-conference, second-team all-district and special mention all-state accolades.

A member of her school's honor roll all four years, she closed her high school career with a school-record 1,480 points and 677 rebounds.