CLINTON, Iowa - Two-sport athlete Samantha Gatewood of Lake Village, Ind., recently committed to be a part of the Ashford University women's basketball and track and field teams beginning next fall.

Gatewood represents the first signing by AU women's basketball Head Coach Chris Powers and she joins a pair of Saints from the Hoosier State, Dawn Caffery and Kaela Hunt, both of Indianapolis.

Her signing also adds immediate depth to AU Head Coach Chris Adams' emerging throws unit.

"We're excited to add depth by signing Samantha because we have a good-sized senior class graduating this year," Powers said. "She's a hard worker and a very versatile athlete."

Gatewood is an accomplished discus and shot put thrower, receiving all-conference recognition in both events the last two years at North Newton High School. She received first-team honors in shot as a sophomore while being a first-team honoree in both events her junior season.

Gatewood was a regional qualifier in both shot put and discus as a junior and sectional discus champion as a sophomore. She was voted North Newton's Most Improved Thrower as a freshman.

On the court as a guard, Gatewood is coming off first-team all-conference honors while being named to the all-area first team. She was the recipient of the team's Miss Hustle award and was an honorable mention all-conference nod as a sophomore.

Gatewood chose Ashford over Manchester College and Olivet Nazarene University and is the daughter of Mark and Kim Gatewood. She plans to major in Secondary Math Education.