PEORIA, Ill. -- Former Bradley women's basketball player Leah Kassing (Mt. Sterling, Ill./Brown County) recently signed a professional contract to play in Poland beginning this fall.

A Second-Team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection this past year, Kassing signed with  Lotos Gdynia based in Gdynia, Poland.  She is expected to report in early September and the squad's season will run through April.

"I'm really proud of Leah, she has worked very hard for this opportunity," Bradley head coach Paula Buscher said.  "It has been a dream of hers for a long time.  It's great for her to be able to travel overseas, experience different cultures and play the game she loves.  It is an exciting time for her and her family as she embarks on her pro career."

Kassing is the first Bradley women's basketball player to sign a pro contract since Dena Williams in 2005. 

After battling injuries her first three seasons on The Hilltop, Kassing led the team in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots in 2011-12, helping Bradley to the quarterfinals of the Women's Basketball Invitational.  She is one of seven players in program history with career totals of 700 points, 500 rebounds and 75 blocked shots. 

Kassing's 452 points in her final season were more than her first three seasons combined and the most by a Brave since 2001-02.  Her career field goal percentage of .506 is seventh all time and she ranks 14th in career rebounding at BU.