Marquette University Athletics
Women's Basketball Inks Five During Early Signing Period
11/15/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 15, 1999
MILWAUKEE - Marquette women?s basketball coach Terri Mitchell today announced the signing of Kristin Cuff, Katie O?Grady, Kelly Schwerman, Becky Stieber and Crystal Weaver to national letters of intent. Each of the five signees is rated among the Top 300 seniors in the nation by the Blue Star Index.
?We?re excited about the tradition of winning programs that these players come from,? Mitchell said. ?It?s a talented class, but it?s also a high-character class that should have an immediate impact on the all-around shape of our program for the next four seasons. Each of these players has that competitive instinct that will help us continue the success we?ve had in recent years.?
Cuff, a 6-1 forward from Pottsville, Pa., helped her Nativity B.V.M. High school squad capture the Class A Pennsylvania state title last season, when she averaged 17.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.7 blocks and 2.2 steals per game. She was the only underclassman on the All-Anthracite Conference First Team and was also the league?s Co-Most Valuable Player. Cuff is ranked as the #24 forward in the country by Blue Star, is a Street & Smith?s Honorable Mention All-American and is a High Honorable Mention All-American by Joe Smith?s Women?s Basketball News Service.
?Kristin is a finesse player who, nonetheless, isn?t afraid to mix it up inside,? Mitchell said. ?She has a lot of the same skills that (current Golden Eagle All-American candidate) Lisa Oldenburg had at that point in her career. She?s able to get up and down the court well and can help a team win in a lot of different ways.?
O?Grady is the all-time leading scorer with 1,836 points for Oak Park?s (Ill.) Fenwick High program, which is ranked #1 in Illinois and #8 in the nation by Street & Smith?s. The 5-7 guard is a two-time Illinois Basketball Coaches Association All-State and Chicago Sun Times All-Area and All-State selection who was MVP of the East Suburban Catholic Conference last season. She is the #25 guard in the country by Blue Star, a Street & Smith?s Honorable Mention All-American and an All-American Tenth Team pick by Joe Smith?s Women?s Basketball News Service.
?Katie is a long-range sniper who should be considered a weapon from anywhere on the perimeter,? Mitchell said. ?She?s got a scorer?s mentality and a scorer?s touch. Katie wants to hit the big bucket.?
Schwerman led her Kettle Moraine High club to the Wisconsin WIAA Division I Championship last year as a junior, when the 5-9 guard was named the Wisconsin Player of the Year. She was also named to the Wisconsin All-State First Team following a season in which she averaged 14 points and six rebounds per game. Schwerman is the Preseason Co-Player of the Year in Wisconsin by the Wisconsin AAU Girls? Basketball Magazine and is a Street & Smith?s Honorable Mention All-American. The Waukesha, Wis., native is also a Honorable Mention All American by Joe Smith?s Women?s Basketball News Service.
Kelly was the Player of the Year last season and did nothing to disprove that over the summer,? said Keith Noll, Director of the Wisconsin Viking Club AAU program. ?She?s the top shooting guard in the state.?
Stieber is a 6-0 forward who shares Wisconsin AAU Girls? Basketball Magazine Wisconsin Preseason Player of the Year honors with Schwerman. The physical Stieber averaged 13 points and nine rebounds per game last season when she led Mosinee High to a 24-1 season and a spot in the final four of the Division 2 State Tournament. She is a Street & Smith?s Honorable Mention All-American.
?Becky?s strong play in the spring and summer recruiting periods impressed college coaches around the country,? said Noll. ?She?s a versatile player who could have played anywhere in the country - we fielded calls from coaches nationwide about her.?
Weaver?s East Kentwood (Mich.) team is undefeated heading into the District Playoffs tonight in Michigan. The athletic, 5-11 forward can do a little bit of everything on the court according to her statistics: 18 points, 12 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 3.0 steals per game to go along with shooting percentages of 52% from the field and 80% from the line. She is a nominee for Michigan?s Ms. Basketball as the top player in the state.
?Crystal is the all-around player,? Mitchell said. ?When you try to describe her game, two aspects come to mind: her versatility and her athleticism. She can score from the inside or the outside and is a proficient shot blocker. She?s also tenacious on the boards.?
