Finally, the Arizona women’s basketball team received positive news after a devastating off-season of transfers.

Barton County (Kan.) Community College guard Ipek Turkyilmaz will join the Wildcats this fall, UA head coach Niya Butts announced Wednesday.

The Izmir, Turkey, native averaged 12.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game at Barton in 68 games. Turkyilmaz shot 40.4 percent from beyond the arc, leading Barton to a fourth-place finish at the NJCAA Tournament and its first Region IV Championship in eight seasons.

The 5-foot-9 Turkyilmaz shot 40.4 percent from beyond the arc, lifting Barton to an overall 61-7 recording during her two years.

“”I am very excited to add Ipek to our team,”” Butts said in a news release. “”She is a tremendous student-athlete who had an outstanding career at Barton. She is an excellent shooter from the outside and will be a great addition to our roster as a scoring threat from three-point range.””

The program lost Erin O’Bryan, Rheya Neabors, Rhaya Neabors and Beatrice Bofia and Marie McGee from last season’s team.

Combined with losing seniors Ashley Gilpin, Jessica Arnold and Ashley Whisonant, along with ex-head coach Joan Bonvicini and her three assistants, the Wildcats have seen the departure of a combined 14 players and coaches from the 2007-08 season.

Arizona Daily Wildcat