By Tom Robinson, NEPABasketball.com

The Misericordia University women’s basketball team already has three Lackawanna League graduates playing prominent roles.

Now, the Cougars have two more players from the league on the way.

Rachel McDonald, a 5-foot-4 senior shooting guard from Abington Heights, is the latest to commit to the program, informing Misericordia coach Jason Rhine of her decision Friday.

Skylar Bianchi, a senior center from Valley View, committed during the summer.

The two NEPA Elite players, along with sisters Erica and Morgan Haefele from Mid Valley and Gianna Delfino from Dunmore, all played on AAU teams out of Riverfront Sports in Scranton.

“I knew a few girls on the team from the AAU program and with them being from around here, too,” McDonald said. “It’s good to know people going into it.”

McDonald also said she felt like she got to know Rhine well with the consistent interest he showed over the past two years.

“He’s been really good throughout the process and I’d love to play for him,” she said.

McDonald originally looked into Misericordia for its physical therapy program, but is uncertain of her major at this time. She chose Misericordia, which has averaged 20 wins during Rhine’s four seasons, after also considering and visiting other National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III schools Fredonia (N.Y.), Juniata, Keystone, Lebanon Valley, Lycoming and Marywood.

At Abington Heights, McDonald is entering her third season as a starting shooting guard with the possibility of also having an increased ballhandling role. A second-team Lackawanna League Division 1 all-star choice by NEPABasketball.com last season, she has more than 100 3-pointers over the past two seasons while helping the team to back-to-back, 20-win seasons.

McDonald led the NEPA Elite Lewis team in 3-pointers during the summer and fall.