GNAC Women's Basketball

2012-13 Recruits

Northwest Nazarene

Crusaders Sign Post Player From Eugene (11/11/11)

Ellen Ferrenburg, a 6-1 post from North Eugene High School in Eugene, Ore, has signed a National Letter Intent to play basketball at Northwest Nazarene beginning in the 2012-13 season.

A two-time first-team All-Midwestern League selection, Ferrenburg averaged 18.1 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.0 blocks per game as a junior, also earning Oregon 5A all-state honorable mention honors.

"Ellen is a very impressive athlete who knows how to score," said NNU 11th-year head coach Kelli Lindley. "She has a ton of potential, an outstanding work ethic, and we are looking forward to watching her become an impact post player here at NNU.

"Ellen is the type of person you want as a teammate and you want to coach," Lindley added, noting that Ferrenburg also carries a 3.86 GPA in the classroom. "She comes from a great family and we are thrilled to have them become a part of the NNU women's basketball program.

Seattle Pacific

Falcons Sign Player from Juanita (11/23/11)

Juanita High School's Molly Grager has signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Seattle Pacific.

The 6-foot-2 Grager averaged 9.1 points, 11.3 rebounds and 4.1 blocks per game as a junior for Juanita, helping the Rebels go 19-7 overall and advance to the Sea-King District tournament.

SPU coach Julie Heisey said Grager brings a lot of potential to the Falcons' program. “She has a huge up side,” Heisey said. “She's long and is a good defender, and I feel like she runs the floor well.

"She's playing for a good coach in a good program, and she knows how to win. She has been a big part of building that program at Juanita, and their team has gotten better every year.” Grager said SPU has its share of up side, as well.

Heisey had seen Grager play previously during the high school season, but was especially impressed with Grager during a tournament this past summer in Oregon.

“It was back and forth, and she hit five baskets in a row to give them a little surge,” Heisey said. “She scored from the block and in transition. That was the first time I had seen her play during the summer, and I thought, 'Wow, she has really improved.' She just caught my eye there.”

In addition to basketball, Grager is a standout in cross country and track for Juanita. She has qualified for the Washington state high school cross country meet twice, placing 61st among 138 athletes in the Class 3A race earlier this month in Pasco.

Grager also has two trips to the state track and field meet, qualifying twice in the high jump and once in the triple jump. Her personal-bests are 5 feet, 6 inches in the high, and 35-2 in the triple.

Western Oregon

Californian To Play For Wolves (11/21/11)

Whitney Rodriguez, a 6-2 center from Yucca Valley, Calif., has inked a National Letter of Intent to play basketball at Western Oregon University.

Rodriguez was a first team All-De Anza League selection and first team All-CIF Southern Section honoree as a junior. She helped lead YVHS to the De Anza League championship and the state tournament. She averaged a double-double with 10.4 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. She also paced her squad with 1.8 blocks while shooting 45 percent from the field.

“Whitney will be the first legitimate back to the basket post we've had since I took over in 2006," said coach Greg Bruce. "She most definitely gives us a presence on the interior both offensively and defensively.

"She is a warrior on the boards and does an excellent job of outletting the ball." Bruce added. "Whitney is a very motivated young lady who wants to be the best she can be! She is going to have a breakout season as a senior at Yucca Valley and carry that right into her freshman year at WOU. I'm looking forward to having her in our program.”

Utah Forward Signs With Western Oregon (11/14/11)

Kelsey Henry, a 6-1 forward from Morgan High School in Utah, has signed a national letter of intent with Western Oregon University.

Henry was an All-Region 11 selection last season after helping lead MHS to its second consecutive Region 11 Championship and the Utah 3A state tournament. She paced her team in field goal percentage (46.8) and free throw percentage (77.0), and ranked third in rebounding (6.6).

"Kelsey brings much-needed size to our program," Western Oregon sixth-year head coach Greg Bruce. "She is a very good athlete who runs the floor exceptionally well and can score on the block or from the perimeter.

"In addition, Kelsey is extremely competitive, has a tremendous desire to be the best she can be, and possesses a team-oriented attitude," Bruce continued. "Kelsey's game will blossom at the college level and she will be a major contributor to our future success.”

This last year Henry also enjoyed a successful season with the Salt Lakers Club team where she averaged 11.5 points and 7.5 rebounds.

Wolves Sign Players From Washington, California (11/11/11)

Jackie Steiger and Mariah Durian, who hail from Washington and California, respectively, have signed National Letters of Intent with Western Oregon University.

Steiger is a 5-7 shooting guard out of South Kitsap High School in Port Orchard, Wash. She was named to the first team All-Narrows League (4A) as a junior after averaging 12.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.2 steals and shooting 59.7 percent from behind the arc.

She helped lead South Kitsap to the state tournament with a record of 20-6 and was selected as one of the top six players in Kitsap County ('Super Six')

“Jackie is a big time shooter with unlimited range," said WOU coach Greg Bruce. "In addition, she has all of the intangibles you look for in a student-athlete: tremendous work ethic, the determination to be the best she can be, and outstanding personal qualities.

"Because of the type of person that she is and the skills and athletic ability she possesses, Jackie is going to have a great four-year career as a Wolf.”

Dorian joins the Wolves out of Esperanza High School in Yorba Linda, Calif. She is a 5-11 wing who was an all-state selection as a junior after averaging 13.9 points, 7.8 rebounds and shooting 44.8 percent from the field. Dorian is also a two-time all-league selection and an accomplished hurdler in track.

“Simply put, Mariah is a player," Bruce said. "She has a great combination of size (as a perimeter player) and skill along with being a tremendous athlete.

"She can shoot from distance, drive and finish at the hoop, and has a college-ready pull-up jumper. She will be a force on the boards as a 3."

2012-13 Recruits

Previous Women's Basketball Recruits