CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois women's basketball head coach Brady Sallee has announced the addition of a new player to the Panthers roster as Katlyn Payne enrolled for classes on the Charleston campus on Monday morning.

Payne (5'11", Forward) was a top recruit who originally signed with Florida Gulf Coast University to play this past semester but decided to transfer prior to playing any games for the Eagles squad. Payne will be eligible to play at EIU following final exams for the 2011 fall semester and will have three and half years of eligibility remaining.

"We are thrilled to be able to add Katlyn to our Panther Family," said Sallee. "Katlyn is a young lady that we followed from her freshman year and desperately wanted out of high school. She is a big time scorer and can play multiple positions in our system. Before moving to Florida, she was one of the top players in Illinois and upon her arrival in Florida quickly established herself as one of the tops in Florida as well. To be able to add that type of talent is really exciting. I'm a firm believer in things happening for a reason and there is no doubt in my mind that Katlyn is exactly where she should be."

Payne graduated from Bishop Verot High School in Fort Myers, Fla., where she was named the 2010 Southwest Florida Association of Basketball Coaches Miss Basketball in 2010. She earned first team All-Area honors averaging 24.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. She scored 554 points to be named the Fort Myers News Press Girls Basketball Area Player of the Year.

Payne is originally from Illinois playing at Fenwick High School in Oak Park during her sophomore and junior seasons. She was a first team All-State selection averaging 18 points, 11 rebounds and 3 steals per game. As a junior she helped lead Fenwick to a 29-6 record and state sectional final. Payne played her freshman season at St. Edward High School in Elgin averaging 15 points and six rebounds per game with All-Conference and All-State honors.

EIU is currently 8-7 on the season with a 4-1 record in the OVC. The Panthers return to action on Thursday hosting Eastern Kentucky at 5:30 p.m.