FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 10-17-00

Hodge Introduces First Signing Class At Basketball Media Day
Nine Newcomers To AASU Women's Hoops Come From Across The Country

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Head women's basketball coach Roger Hodge introduced his nine new players for his inaugural season at AASU Basketball Media Day on Tuesday afternoon at the Armstrong Sports Center.

Hodge's nine signees will join five returnees from last season's squad to form the 2000-2001 Lady Pirate squad. Of the nine signees, two are transfers from NCAA Division I schools, two are junior college transfers and five are incoming freshmen.

Joining the Lady Pirates from NCAA Division I schools are junior forward Catherine Compton (6-1, Lexington, S.C.) and sophomore forward Zandrique Cason (6-0, Tempe, Ariz.). Cason started 20 games for the Big South Conference champion Liberty University Lady Flames and averaged 6.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game as a freshman for Liberty. Compton was a two-year player for the ACC-champion Clemson University Lady Tigers and earned ACC Academic Honor Roll honors.

The junior college ranks produced two more Lady Pirates in sophomore guard Marloes Renskers (5-7, Enschede, The Netherlands) and sophomore forward Becky Thrift (6-0, Rincon, Ga.). Renskers played as a freshman at the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls, Idaho while Thrift competed for the Middle Georgia College Lady Warriors.

Rounding out the class of newcomers for coach Hodge are five talented freshmen – guards Melissa Brooks (5-7, Savannah, Ga.) and Nicole Joffrion (5-9, Otsego, Mich.), forwards Dawn Baldwin (5-11, Jonesboro, Ga.) and Amy Caldwell (5-10, Georgetown, Tenn.) and center Rachel Baker (6-3, Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.).

Brooks, a local product from Calvary Baptist HS in Savannah, was a two-year captain for the Cavaliers and a two-time All-City honoree. Joffrion earned three-time All-Conference honors at Otsego HS and was a Detroit Free Press honorable mention All-State selection as a junior.

Baldwin was a Nike All-Star at Westlake HS in Atlanta and an honorable mention All-South Fulton County honoree for the Lions. Caldwell was an All-District and All-Region performer for Bradley Central HS in Cleveland, Tenn., while Baker was an All-State honoree for Freeport HS in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.

Coach Hodge's nine newcomers join five returnees from last season's squad – guards Lexie Martin, Shawnte Craig, Kristin Brewer, Melissa Germany and forward Lori Green – as well as one returnee from the 1997-98 season in guard Michelle Hubbard, who has one year of eligibility remaining for the Lady Pirates.

AASU opens up the 2000-2001 season on Fri., Nov. 17 and Sat., Nov. 18 as the Lady Pirates host the 2000 Chatham Orthopaedic/Days Inn Oglethorpe Tip-Off Classic. AASU faces Mount Olive at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17.

- Pirates -