Pocatello, ID - Courtesy Katie Zigars - ISU Media Relations The Idaho State women's basketball program announced two signees, Brea Matthews and Ashlee Rigter, to the Bengal squad after completing their National Letters of Intent during the late signing period. Both players will join the Bengals as freshman in the fall of 2009.
Matthews, a shooting guard, graduated from Mt. Carmel High School having averaged 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists per game, leading her team in rebounds and steals with three. She earned North County Player of the Year as well as Valley League Player of the Year for the 2008-09 season. She was named to the First Team All-League and Second Team All-CIF as well as earning her team's most valuable player award.
"Brea will bring to our team the ability to attack and create off the dribble. She is a good athlete, a good rebounder, and an aggressive player," said head coach Seton Sobolewski. "Not only is Brea a two time league MVP and All-San Diego Section first teamer, she is a great student with almost a 4.0 GPA"
The 5'9" guard was a member of the three-time defending CIF Champion team from 2006-08. She also helped her team become the Palomar League Champions in 2007. Matthews amassed an impressive record helping her league team to an undefeated 12-0 record, and posting a 24-7 record with Mt. Carmel during the 2008-09 season. Over her career, Matthews has posted a 224-74 record for a .752 winning percentage. She shot 51 percent from the field her senior season.
Rigter graduated from Ashburton College, a high school in New Zealand, earning varsity letters in basketball, netball and rowing. The power forward earned a Blues Award for basketball in 2008 and a performance award for rowing in 2007. She was a member of the 2004 South Island Championship team for netball.
"At almost 6'4, Ashlee runs the floor very well. She is very effective around the basket with 15-17 foot shooting range," said head coach Sobolewski. "With the mobility and skills Ashlee possesses, she has the potential to be a very good player in the Big Sky Conference. We are very excited about this late addition."
Matthews and Rigter will continue to add to the 2009-10 recruiting class. Matthews performs well off the court as well earning scholar athlete and honor roll, in addition to being named San Diego Union Tribune All-Academic First Team.
"With the addition of Brea and Ashlee, we have been able to keep with our recent trend of signing young ladies who not only are exceptional basketball players, but are going to be good representatives of our program, university, and community," said Sobolewski.
Matthews and Rigter will give the Bengals a total of seven players who have signed with Idaho State for the 2009-10 season to join Morgan Wohltman, Kaela Oakes, Shannon Byrne, Ashleigh Vella and Ashley Smith.
