Lady Dogs add Washington State transfer Bianca Blanaru to roster

The Georgia women's basketball team has added a tall post presence down low.

On Thursday, the program announced that it signed Washington State center Bianca Blanaru, who left the Cougars after two years. A 6-foot-5 post player, Blanaru averaged 2.3 points and 2.1 rebounds in 30 game this past season. Blanaru will have to sit out the 2016-17 season due to NCAA transfer rules but is now the tallest player on Georgia's roster.

“Bianca is someone who will bring a lot of experience to our roster,” Georgia head coach Joni Taylor said. “She has a huge advantage in that she can take this year to learn our system, develop and become the best player she can be in practice every day. She has the skill, size and versatility to be a difference maker in the post for us. We look forward to her joining us, and I’m excited to watch her career over the next few years.”

Welcome home to our newest #Dawg, Bianca Blanaru! READ>>https://t.co/0GlClguSS9 pic.twitter.com/Crd2P9B5hr

— Georgia Basketball (@UGA_WBB) April 21, 2016

Blanaru is a native of Timisoara, Romania and is known for her defensive presence. She blocked 22 shots for the Cougars this past season and set a freshman record of 5 blocked shots against Idaho State during her first college basketball season.

Blanaru has international basketball experience, having played on Romania's Under-18 National Team at the 2012 European Championships. She was also a member of the Romania Under-20 National Team in 2013.

Blanaru joins incoming freshmen Stephanie Paul and Kortney Eisenman, as well as junior college transfer and Portugal native Simone Costa as part of Georgia's recruiting class of 2016.

In Taylor's first season as Georgia's head coach, the Lady Dogs compiled a 21-10 overall record and made it back to the NCAA Tournament after missing it in 2014-15. Georgia lost its first-round tournament game to Indiana 62-58.

The Lady Dogs lose four key senior contributors in Shacobia Barbee, Tiaria Griffin, Merritt Hempe and Marjorie Butler, and will hope the three available recruits for the upcoming season will be able to help replace the production lost to graduation.

This story was originally published April 21, 2016 at 12:13 PM with the headline "Lady Dogs add Washington State transfer Bianca Blanaru to roster ."