NAMPA, Idaho – Northwest Nazarene University head women's basketball coach Kelli Lindley has announced that Monica Garcia, Alla Dzyidzhiyeshvili, Chelsie Luke, Leslie Warwick, and Susan Ruettgers have each signed National Letters-of-Intent to attend NNU and play for the Crusaders next year.

 

Garcia (5-8, G, Jr., Guadalajara, Mexico), who comes to NNU from Chabot Community College in Oakland, Calif., averaged 17.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game last season in leading her team to an Elite Eight appearance in the California Community College Athletic Association state playoffs.  An all-Coast Conference All-Star as a sophomore, Monica was an honorable-mention all-Coast Conference selection as a freshman and is a nominee for the Chabot Athlete-of-the-Year Award and the Tenney Award.

 

“We could not be happier that we were able to get a player like Monica to join our program,” Lindley commented.  “Monica is a scorer through and through who is able to play any of the guard positions.  Her experience is evident in how she plays and interacts with her teammates and I am certain she will be play a huge role in leading this team next season both on and off the court.”

 

Dzyidzhiyeshvili (5-6, G, Jr., Ontario, OR) attended Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, Ore., and was a Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) East Region All-Conference selection this season, averaging 11.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.8 steals per game.  Alla finished as the TVCC career leader in steals and holds the single-game steals record with an impressive 11 in one game.  A 2008 graduate of Ontario High School, Alla will graduate from TVCC in June with her Associate of Arts degree and carries a 3.21 GPA.

 

“Alla is a special athlete with exceptional jumping ability and strength,” Lindley added.  “She will immediately be able to defend the other team's best guard and make things happen defensively.  I am really excited to watch her progress in our up-tempo system that particularly favors her natural gifts.  Alla is the type of person you want on your team; she is a hard worker, team player, and will provide great leadership for us.”

 

Luke (5-9, G, Fr., Meridian, ID) will graduate from Meridian High School and joins the Crusaders after averaging 16.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 3.0 steals per game for the Warriors.  A first-team all-Southern Idaho Conference selection this season, Chelsie was also an Idaho 5A first-team all-state team member.

 

“We are really excited that we were able to keep someone of Chelsie's ability here in the Treasure Valley,” Lindley comments.  “Besides being a quality person, Chelsie is an outstanding athlete who has a very good feel for the game.  No doubt she will leave her mark here at NNU.” 

 

Warwick (5-11, P, Fr., Boise, ID) joins the Crusaders from Centennial High School where she averaged 6.0 points and 4.2 rebounds per game as a senior.

 

“Leslie is going to surprise some people during her time at NNU,” Lindley adds.  “She is athletic, fundamentally sound, and a quick learner.  We are thrilled to have an opportunity to coach her and watch her progress. On top of that, Leslie is a great person off the court who will only make our team better in every way.”  Leslie will graduate from Centennial High with a 3.70 GPA.

 

Ruettgers (6-1, P, Fr., Sisters, OR) joins the Crusader family from Sisters High School where she was a first-team all-Sky-Em League selection as a senior, averaging 12.1 points and 11.0 rebounds per game.

 

“We are really excited to have the opportunity to coach someone with Susan's potential,” Lindley comments.  “She will be a great fit in our system due to her athleticism and ability to drive the ball from the high post.  With her work ethic and desire to get better, I anticipate that she will end up being a great post player at NNU.”

 

The Crusaders spring recruiting class joins Megan Hingston, who signed with NNU during the November signing period, bringing the 2010 class to six. 

 

Hingston finished her senior season as the Central Valley Conference Player-of-the-Year, was an Oregon 6A first-team all-state selection, and averaged 15.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game at  McNary High School in Salem, Oregon.