Last week could go a long way toward what head coach Erin Batth hopes to build with the Providence College women’s basketball team.
The Friars secured four commitments from Class of 2025 prospects, a recruiting breakthrough they hope will pay dividends in the coming seasons.
Princess-Alexandria Moody, Riley Hamburger, Olivia Rodrigues and Sami Mancini all pledged to Providence via posts on their respective social media accounts. A point guard, two wings and a paint player helped the Friars address each area of the floor.
Moody is a Maryland native who preps with Bishop McNamara and plays grassroots on the Nike circuit with Team Takeover. The Mustangs captured a state private school title last season and could push for a national top-10 ranking next year. Moody should carry a familiar name for some Providence men’s fans — her brother, 2026 shooting guard Prince-Alexander Moody, claims early offers from the Friars, Georgetown, Syracuse, Illinois, Maryland and others.
Hamburger shares a grassroots backcourt with Moody and preps at Virginia power Paul VI. She took a visit to Providence in November and decided to end her recruitment midway through the July evaluation period. Hamburger impressed at DMV Live last month, netting 22 points in a Paul VI win over Friends Central.
Rodrigues is the local member of the next Friars class. She’s a Massachusetts native who preps at Tabor Academy and runs on the Under Armour circuit with Bay State Jags, the same program that produced Providence graduate Janai Crooms. Rodrigues had offers from Stony Brook, Illinois-Chicago, UMBC and Elon after being named a NEPSAC All-Star in 2023-24.
Mancini will enroll immediately and redshirt with the Friars for the 2024-25 season. She’s a 6-foot-6-inch Missouri native who prepped at Link Academy and played on the Adidas circuit with Lady Push. Mancini held an offer from Vanderbilt and had campus visits with Missouri State and Oklahoma State in 2023.
“From the moment I walked through the doors, I knew this was where I wanted to be,” Mancini said in an Instagram post. “The welcoming atmosphere and the way everyone brought out the best in me confirmed my decision.”
Providence figures to have several rosters spots available entering the 2025-26 season. Grace Efosa, Brynn Farrell and Xavier transfer Mackayla Scarlett will all exhaust their eligibility as graduate students. Kylee Sheppard, Nariah Scott, Marta Morales Romero, Sarah Bandoma, Audrey Koch, Olivia Olsen and Emily Archibald are all listed as seniors.
The Friars were selected to play in the NIT during Batth’s debut, finishing 13-21 overall. Their highlights included an in-state win over the University of Rhode Island and a 2-0 start in Big East play. Providence upended Butler to open the conference tournament before falling against perennial power Connecticut.
sami on Instagram: “#committed 🖤🤍 * * First and foremost, I want to thank God for blessing me with the talents and strength that have brought me to this point. I also want to thank my mom for believing in me so heavily my whole life. She’s my rock and I wouldn’t be who I am without her. From the moment I walked through the doors, I knew this was where I wanted to be. The welcoming atmosphere and the way everyone brought out the best in me confirmed my decision. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to spend the next five years in a place where I feel at home and with my kind of people. Providence has offered me the chance to forgo my senior year of high school to redshirt and train this year, and I am eager to make the most of this opportunity. This is just the beginning.. stay tuned!”