Women's Basketball | 5/3/2024 9:50:00 AM

Utah Tech head women's basketball coach JD Gustin announced on Friday the signing of Niagara transfer point guard Chardonnay Hartley to a financial aid agreement ahead of the upcoming 2024-25 season. Hartley played her sophomore season with the Purple Eagles' program and has two years of eligibility remaining.  

"We are thrilled Chardonnay chose Utah Tech, she brings a confidence and toughness that we believe will be contagious," said Coach Gustin. "Her speed in transition and her unique playmaking ability help make her a great fit for our style of play."
 
Hartley (5-3; Harlem, New York) helped lead Niagara to a 21-14 overall record this past season, which included a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) regular season championship, and a second round appearance at the 2024 WNIT. 

The junior-to-be started in 17 of 34 games played and averaged 8.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, and a team-high 3.2 assists per game. She was also second on the team in steals (77; 2.2 spg) and third in made 3-pointers (27-of-90; .300).
 
Hartley scored in double figures in 11 games, highlighted by a season-high 24 points in a road win at Manhattan (88-63; 2/8/24), and an 18-point, four-assist effort against perennial national power LSU at the 2023 Cayman Islands Classic last November. 

She began her collegiate career at Longwood University, where Hartley averaged 3.6 points and finished her freshman season with 35 steals and 34 rebounds during the 2022-23 campaign. 
 
Hartley prepped at Bishop Loughlin Memorial HS in New York, where she averaged 20 points during both her junior and senior seasons. She was named to the Tablet Tier 1 All-Star Team as a senior, and was a GCHSAA all-league and New York State Sportswriters Association all-state selection.  
 
Hartley is Utah Tech's sixth signee ahead next season, joining fellow spring signees Andjela Colic (Belgrade, Serbia), Aaliyah Ibarra (Las Vegas, Nev/College of Southern Nevada) and Mattie Olson (Idaho Falls, Idaho/Montana State), along with fall prep signees in Ellie Taylor (West Jordan, Utah/Copper Hills HS, and Paige Cofer (Eagle, Idaho/Eagle HS).