Wednesday, November 13, 2002

Valparaiso University head women's basketball coach Keith Freeman has signed three players to National Letters of Intent for the 2003-2004 season.

Joining the Crusaders for next fall are center Tamra Braun along guards Carrie Myers and Elizabeth Rietema.

Braun is a 6'4" center from Savage, Minn. She led Prior Lake High School to a class AAA third place finish in the state of Minnesota as a junior, where she was named to the State All-Tournament Team. In three seasons, Braun has tallied 263 blocked shots.

?She gives us much needed size inside," Freeman said of Braun.

Myers, a 5'11" guard from Duffield, Va., was named to the All-State Team by both the Associated Press and the Virginia Coaches Association as a junior. The Lee High School product holds the state tournament record with five three-pointers in a game and has scored over 1,500 career points. Myers currently leads Highlands District in scoring, tallying 19.6 points per game.

?Myers is as good of a shooter as I have ever recruited," Freeman said.

Rietema is a 6'1" guard from Grand Rapids, Mich. As a junior, she was named to the All-State Second Team and has been a First Team All-Area performer the last two seasons. As a sophomore, the Grand Rapids Christian High School product set the state single game free throw record, connecting on 20 shots.

?A perimeter with size, Rietema is a good passer," Freeman added about his final signing.

?We added size to every position," Freeman said about the class as a whole. ?It filled a void that currently exists. This class should provide depth to a large nucleus that will return from this year."