Tuesday, May 13, 1997
ASU Women's Hoops Inks 2 J.C. Standouts
TEMPE, Ariz. --The Arizona State University women's basketball program has signed junior college standouts Mary Hunter and Rechelle Lang to study and play basketball, Sun Devil head coach Charli Turner Thorne announced Tuesday.
Hunter, a native of North Bend, Ore., is coming off two seasons at Utah Valley State College in Orem, Utah. She averaged 13.3 points per game and 5.3 rebounds per game this past season. She hit 76.5 percent of her free throws over her two seasons in Orem and led UVSC to the state tournament her freshman year. Hunter was an all-conference and two-time all-region selection and was also selected as UVSC's Female Athlete of the Year.
"Mary is exactly what we need to complement our four very young and talented post players," Turner Thorne says. "Besides giving us scoring and athleticism, Mary will provide us with some much needed leadership and maturity. She's perfect for our system and will be a difficult match-up for other Pac-10 post players."
Lang, a native of New Zealand, spent the past two seasons at Casper (Wyo.) College. She averaged 9.3 ppg, 2.5 steals per game and 3.3 assists per game, leading Casper to a 32-4 record and a seventh-place finish at nationals this past season. Casper placed third with a 28-6 record her freshman year.
"Rechelle, who is a veteran international student-athlete and a proven leader, can play the 1, 2 or 3 position for our squad," Turner Thorne says. "She will strengthen us in every facet of the game, especially with her passing and outside shooting."
Lang hit 37 percent from 3-point range a season ago.
The Sun Devils have now added four incoming freshmen and two junior college transfers to their core of seven returnees. ASU finished 8-19 last year.