By Steve MullinsAssistant Sports Editor
So far this season, the San Diego State women’s basketball teamhas elicited help from newcomers.
Next year it plans to continue the trend.
Head coach Barb Smith announced the early signings of threeplayers to National Letters of Intent. Maggie Sauls, Claudia Wilsonand Heather Wolf will enroll at SDSU next fall and play in the2001-02 season.
“I expect all three to have a big impact on the continuingevolution of the program,” Smith said. “This is a very talented groupof players.”
Sauls, a 5-foot-9 guard/forward from Borger, Texas, averaged 15points per game last season as a junior. She is ranked the No. 25player in Texas by the All-Star Girls Report.
“Maggie brings another shooter to our perimeter game,” Smith said.”She works hard and I expect her to come in and fight for a perimeterspot right away.”
Wilson, a 6-foot-2 forward, was one of the top players in Texasbefore transferring this season to a Chicago high school. She isranked No. 110 in the nation by ASG.
“Claudia is a tremendous athlete who, at 6-foot-2, can play insideor outside,” Smith said. “She is a slashing type of player who candrive to the hoop but is also very tough on the boards. That kind ofversatility should help her see a lot of early playing time.”
Wolf, a 5-foot-6 guard from Stayton, Ore., was a second teamall-Oregon selection as a junior. She averaged 12.3 points and 4.1assists while leading her school to its second straight 23-0 seasonand conference championship.
“Heather will fill in a huge gap in the point guard spot followingthe graduation of Sophia Sledge and Shannon Lee,” Smith said. “Shehas a tremendous work ethic and will bring a lot of hustle and fightto our defense.”
Last month, Wolf told The San Diego Union-Tribune she decided toattend SDSU partly because of the great time she had here during atournament last summer.
TONIGHT
Who: San Diego State (1-3) at Portland State (0-4)
Where: Stott Center, Portland, Ore.
When: 7 p.m.
Aztecs Update: SDSU looks to rebound from Saturday’s disappointing74-59 loss to Tennessee-Chattanooga in the championship game of thePacific Bell Classic. The Aztecs shot .404 from the floor and wereoutrebounded by a 44-23 margin. The night before, they got theirfirst win of the season in the form of an 88-59 blowout againstIllinois State. SDSU is led by sophomore guard Jamey Cox, who isaveraging 13.8 points per game. Newcomer Tanisha Knight has made aneasy transition into the Division I level, averaging 12 points and4.8 rebounds.
Vikings Update: The last time Portland State and SDSU met wasexactly three years ago. The Vikings return just one starter fromlast year’s 9-18 team. On Saturday, Portland State shot 35 percentfrom the floor and fell to Stetson 71-53. Currently, senior forwardHiedi Hatcher leads the team in scoring with 12 per game.
