KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – Truman State Women's Basketball Head Coach Theo Dean has announced the addition of six student-athletes to the Bulldogs' 2026 signing class. The group includes Sara Hameed, Sarah Helm, Riley Fazenbaker, Adriana Howard, Abby Keighron, and Ava Putman, all of whom will join the program ahead of the upcoming season.
"We're excited to welcome these six talented student-athletes to the Truman Women's Basketball family," said Dean. "Sara, Sarah, Riley, Adriana, Abby and Ava each bring unique strengths and experiences that will enhance our roster and continue to elevate the standard of our program. Their versatility, skill sets, and commitment to growth make them tremendous additions to our culture and future within the GLVC.
"I'm grateful to Assistant Coach Alexis Griffin, Graduate Assistant Coach Trinitee Jackson, Student Assistant Coach Avery Larson, and Student Assistant Coach Neylan Vila Delicado for their dedication throughout the recruiting process and for identifying student-athletes who align so well with the vision of Truman Women's Basketball."
Sara Hameed
Guard | Los Angeles, Calif. | University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy (Mo.)
"We're excited to welcome Sara to our program! Sara brings experience and versatility to our backcourt while giving us another guard capable of initiating the offense. Her pace, feel for the game, and ability to put pressure on the defense fit our style extremely well. Sara does a great job making plays for herself and her teammates, and her leadership and consistency will make her a tremendous addition to our Bulldog Family."
Hameed arrives in Kirksville after a strong collegiate career at UHSP, where she started 21 of 29 games during the 2025-26 season. She averaged 7.8 points, 3.8 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game in conference play while logging over 25 minutes per contest.
A standout in the classroom as well, Hameed earned multiple academic honors including two CSC Academic All-District selections, three NAIA Daktronics Scholar Athlete nods, and four AMC All-Academic Team honors. She was also recognized as a two-time UHSP Scholar-Athlete of the Year nominee.
Sarah Helm
Guard | Cedarburg, Wis. | Lewis University
"We're thrilled to have Sarah join our program! Sarah brings shooting and a high basketball IQ to our team while also adding valuable familiarity with the GLVC. She has the ability to stretch the floor from three, consistently make smart decisions within the flow of the game, and has a true understanding of team defense. Sarah knows how to play within a system and plays with a natural confidence. Her adaptability and overall skill set will make her a great addition to our Bulldog Family."
Helm joins Truman after beginning her collegiate career at Lewis, where she appeared in five games as a freshman. Prior to that, she enjoyed a decorated high school career highlighted by steady development and leadership.
A two-time team captain, Helm capped her senior season with First Team All-Conference honors, All-State Honorable Mention recognition, and team MVP honors after averaging 20.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, and shooting 39 percent from three-point range. She also reached the 1,000-point milestone and set a single-game scoring record with 41 points.
Helm helped lead her team to regional championships during her freshman and sophomore seasons and earned multiple All-Conference recognitions while consistently improving across her four-year career.
Riley Fazenbaker
Guard | Scott Air Force Base, Ill. | Incarnate Word Academy
"We're excited to welcome Riley to Truman! Riley brings length, versatility, and a winning mentality to our perimeter while coming from one of the nation's premier high school programs. As a left-handed guard, she impacts the game in a variety of offensive ways with her quickness, ability to run the floor, and confidence shooting the three. Riley has a great feel for finishing around the rim and consistently makes winning plays through her energy and motor. Her versatility and athleticism fit perfectly with the style we want to play, and she will be an outstanding addition to our Bulldog Family."
Fazenbaker comes to Truman following a standout prep career that included a state championship season in 2025-26. She earned four varsity letters across three schools and helped her team capture both district and state titles.
During her junior season at Mascoutah High School, she averaged 10.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game while earning Second Team All-Mississippi Valley Conference honors. Her ability to contribute across multiple categories and compete at a high level has been a hallmark of her career.
Adriana Howard
Forward | Moulton, Iowa | Buena Vista University
"We're thrilled to have Adriana joining our program! Adriana is a physical forward who gives us size, rebounding, and efficiency around the rim while also being able to stretch the floor with her shooting. She adds valuable depth to our frontcourt and brings an inside-out skill set that complements our style of play extremely well. Adriana plays with great energy around the basket and brings a balanced offensive game to our frontcourt. We're excited for her to join our Bulldog Family."
Howard brings an impressive résumé highlighted by dominance in the paint and numerous accolades. She surpassed 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds, finishing with 1,239 points and 1,099 boards.
Her senior campaign included First Team All-Conference, All-District, and All-Region honors, along with Third Team All-State recognition. Howard also set school records for rebounds in a game and season while earning multiple athlete of the week and month honors.
Her production extended across the stat sheet with 185 assists, 174 steals, and 190 blocks during her career.
Abby Keighron
Guard | Wheaton, Ill. | Wheaton Warrenville South High School
"We're thrilled to have Abby join our program! As a true point guard with proven shooting ability, she stretches the floor and keeps defenses honest. Abby brings that same mindset to the defensive end; she always emphasizes the little things and plays with a hustle mentality you love to coach. Her dedication to improving each season and doing what it takes to win makes her a perfect fit for our Bulldog family, and I'm excited to see her grow in our program."
Keighron finished her prep career as one of the most decorated shooters in her program's history, setting the school record with 188 career three-pointers. A four-year varsity letter winner, she earned Unanimous All-Conference honors as a senior along with All-Tournament team recognition and team MVP honors.
She averaged 11.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 2.1 steals per game her senior season while also being a four-time Academic All-Conference selection. Keighron helped lead her team to a regional final appearance and brought success in multiple sports, earning a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award in flag football.
Ava Putman
Guard | DeWitt, Iowa | Central DeWitt High School
"We're excited to welcome Ava Putman to our program! She's a dynamic combo guard who impacts the game on both ends of the floor and elevates our transition play. Ava brings the competitive instincts and work ethic we value, and she's continued to add layers to her game each season. She has the confidence to create her own shot, the vision to make plays for others, and the toughness to defend multiple positions. Ava's versatility and energy make her a perfect addition to our Bulldog family, and I'm excited to see her grow in our program."
Putman capped off an outstanding high school career that included back-to-back MAC Conference championships, regional titles, and state tournament appearances, including an undefeated conference season in 2025-26.
She surpassed 1,000 career points, finishing with 1,101 points while adding 390 rebounds, 282 assists, and 213 steals. As a senior, she averaged 16.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 3.0 steals per game.
Her list of accolades includes multiple First Team All-MAC and First Team All-Area selections, IGCA All-District honors, IBCA All-Region recognition, and Academic All-State honors. Putman also excelled as a multi-sport athlete, earning honors in soccer and qualifying for the state track meet.
The 2026 signing class reflects a balanced mix of collegiate experience, championship pedigree, and high school success, as Truman State looks to continue building momentum within the GLVC.
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