The 6-foot-2 Williams averaged 9.0 points and 6.4 rebounds as a freshman for the Red Flash. She will sit out this season because of NCAA transfer rules and will have three years of eligibility remaining.
"She gives us a true inside player," Carey said. "Liz Holdbrook, who transferred from Clemson, has some size but is a true (small forward or power forward).
"It was very important to get someone in here with size."
While adding another inside player, Carey has also been busy with recruiting.
And he immediately found out the difference from Division I and Division II recruiting.
"We do a lot more off-campus recruiting," Carey said. "It's very important to get off campus and to get out there early.
"You have to get on the players when they are freshmen and sophomores."
But with the help of his experienced staff, his transition with recruiting women's basketball went smoothly.
"I met some new people and learned a lot," Carey said.
His assistants, Joanna Bernabei and Aukse Harris, each have been recruiters on the Division I level, and Cindy Martin has experience with the junior college levels.
"It's been great because coach Bernabei and coach Harris have been through it," he said. "Right now we are still recruiting some junior college players and coach Martin is helping with that."
Preseason conditioning drills start for Carey's inaugural season on Monday.
"We'll see who wants it and who doesn't," he said. "We have good players and young players coming back but we need to keep adding to that."
Assistant sports editor Danny Carpenter can be reached at 626-1444 or by e-mail at dcarpenter@exponent-telegram.com.
