UA women 'fill some gaps' with signees

Yesterday the team got four written commitments to compensate for what got them there - six seniors.

Gone next year on Joan Bonvicini's squad will be the team's top post players in Marte Alexander, Mikko Giordano and Adia Barnes. The Wildcats will also lose forward Cha-Ron Walker and guard DeAngela Minter to graduation.

In light of the impending departures, Bonvicini and recruiting coordinator Denise Dove concentrated on landing some size during the recruiting season.

The Wildcats received written commitments from four recruits yesterday, the first day recruits could officially sign with schools. The players will begin play at UA in the 1998-99 season.

Arizona strengthened its Texas connection, signing Elizabeth Pickney, a 6-foot-3-inch forward from Alief Hastings High School in Houston.

Pickney will join current freshmen Monique Paige and LaKeisha Taylor, who are both from Texas.

The Wildcats also landed 6-4 center Michelle Mitchell, who plays for powerhouse Oregon City High School in Oregon City, Ore. Oregon City has won the girl's high school national championship for the last three years.

Also joining the Wildcats will be 5-9 guard Jennifer Calahan out of Chaparral High School in Scottsdale. Calahan is a versatile guard who averaged 17 points, six assists, five steals and four rebounds per game last year.

The final written commitment yesterday came from Julie Brase, another 5-9 guard. Brase, who is from Tucson's Catalina Foothills High School, averaged 25 points, nine rebounds and three assists per game last season. Brase already has ties to UA, in that her grandfather is men's basketball coach Lute Olson.

Despite receiving four written commitments yesterday, he Wildcats still have three scholarships available to fill.

Bonvicini was noticeably excited upon hearing the news of the commitments.

"This is an excellent recruiting class," she said. "We've filled some gaps that needed to be filled. These players are proven winners. They're excellent athletes and students, and we're excited that they'll be part of the University of Arizona women's basketball."