TicketsCINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati women’s basketball head coach Katrina Merriweather has announced the addition of transfer Naomi Benson.
Benson, a 6-foot-2 forward, joins the Bearcats after spending her freshman season at Illinois, where she appeared in 21 games.
"Naomi is a great addition to our squad," said Merriweather. "Her skill set and personality fit with our team and can continue to push us forward. Naomi brings the Bearcat determination we need. We’re excited to continue her development in the post and extend her game. She loves to rebound and has the ability to finish well around the rim. She reminds us of the importance of leaving an impression on someone because you never know when your paths may cross again. We look forward to having her and her family as part of The Sisterhood."
A former four-star recruit ranked inside the top-100 in ESPNW’s HoopGurlz rankings, Benson returns to her home state of Ohio following a standout career at Streetsboro High School.
Benson capped her prep career as a 2025 Ohio Ms. Basketball finalist and McDonald’s All-American Game nominee. As a senior, she averaged 19.1 points and 11.4 rebounds per game while shooting 56.8% from the field.
Across her career, Benson averaged a double-double and earned Metro Athletic Conference Player of the Year twice. She left Streetsboro as the program’s all-time leader in points (1,670), rebounds (1,274), field goals (730), steals (282) and blocks (180).
She also played club basketball for Sport City Angels EYBL.
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