Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Height Dominates Women's Basketball Early Decision Class of 2010
January 26, 2006 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 26, 2006
PRINCETON, N.J. - Women's basketball coach Richard Barron has announced the four prepsters that applied early-decision to Princeton and are set to become members of the Class of 2010. Greatly enhancing Princeton's size with one class, all four are six feet or better and can play both inside and outside the post. The four are also geographically diverse, with one coming from California, two from the Midwest and one from New York.
"We're thrilled with the addition of these four players," Barron said. "Although there are some big shoes to fill with the departure of our current senior class, we believe that we have continued to strengthen our program through our recruiting efforts. We have clearly improved our size, something that is very important with the graduation of Becky Brown. Like those before them, this group of student-athletes is not just a group of fine players, but fine students and fine people as well and we are excited to have them."
Brown, an All-Ivy honoree during her career in the post, is Princeton's third-leading all-time scorer with 1,403 points at present. Her 15.1 points per game is a team-best, and her .656 shooting percentage ranks fifth nationally. Princeton loses Katy O'Brien as well, a shooting guard who ranks on the all-time top-10 lists in both three-point scoring and assists. Lauren Nestor and Ali Smith also graduate in the spring, and Barron will have to replace the depth that pair gave the team.
Jillian Schurle, a six-foot guard/small forward from Eden Prairie, Minn., would become the second Minnesotan on next year's Tigers after current sophomore Ali Prichard. The McDonalds All-American nominee is one of the top scorers in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, pouring in an average of 24 points per game while guiding Hopkins High to a 13-2 record. Last season, Schurle earned all-conference honors as well as a spot on the All-Twin Cities Metro Defensive Team. After leading the Royals to a runner-up finish in the Class 4A state playoffs as a junior, Schurle earned a spot on the all-tournament team. "Jillian is a very versatile and skilled player. She will be a formidable threat on the wing with her ability to shoot, drive, pull-up and finish," Barron said. "She is also a very aggressive and heady defender and one of the most promising rebounding guards I have seen."
Emma Markley, a 6-2 forward/center from Yorktown Heights, N.Y., joins current freshman Julia Berger to make up Princeton's Northeast contingent. She is currently averaging 23 points per game for Yorktown High and turned in a double-double on average last season with 23 points and 13 rebounds per contest. She nearly made it a triple-double by averaging eight assists per game. She was the team's leading scorer and rebounder for her first three years with her senior season in progress and was a three-time all-league and all-state selection. Also a McDonalds All-American nominee, Markley used her athletic talents in soccer, volleyball and lacrosse for the Cornhuskers.
"Emma has incredible athleticism," Barron said. "She has great speed up and down the floor and is a very explosive but graceful leaper. She has the ability to finish shots at the basket with great ease and at 6-2 can really intimidate on defense."
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Emma Markley will join the Tigers in the fall of 2006. |
Cheryl Stevens, a 6-3 center from Canyon Country, Calif., will be one of three Californians on the roster in 2006-07 along with current rookie Caitlin O'Neill and junior Casey Lockwood. In her senior season, Stevens is averaging just under a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds per game. She is near the top of the state statistics in blocks, averaging five per contest. Stevens was an All-Santa Clarita Valley honoree for the Canyon High Cowboys this season.
"Cheryl has a very strong body for the Division I game," Barron said. "She is a legitimate 6-3, possibly 6-4, and is very strong and agile. She will be a solid force on the blocks and the boards. Her upside is tremendous and our system will be ideal for her."
Elizabeth Pietrzak, a 6-2 forward from St. Ignatius College Prep in Illinois, averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds per game as a junior, earning third-team all-state honors. She was also named to the Chicago Tribune all-area team, the Girls Catholic Athletic All-Conference team and was named team MVP. She'll become the third Chicagoland resident on the '06-'07 Tigers after Ariel Rogers and Lillie Romeiser.
"Elizabeth is another tall and versatile player," Barron said. "She has a very nice outside shooting touch, a strong and controlled ability to drive to the basket and a nice assortment of post moves. She is a good passer and will do well in our hi-lo offense."
The current Tigers, at 12-4 overall and 3-0 in the Ivy League, resume their fast-starting conference schedule at Yale on Feb. 3.