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The Mount Vernon Nazarene College women's basketball team has added two more players to its 2001-2002 recruiting class with the addition of Melanie Gosnell and Brittney Beavers.
Gosnell, a 6-foot-3 center from Brunswick, Ohio, averaged 12.8 points and 4.6 rebounds as a senior at Buckeye High School. For her efforts, she was named to the Mohican Area Conference and Northeast Inland District Honorable Mention Teams and the Medina County Second Team. Gosnell shot 46.4 percent from the field (102-of-220) and set a school record by making 78 percent of her free throw attempts (78-of-100).
"Melanie had a nice senior year at Buckeye High School and will be a good fit for us," said MVNC head coach Steve Gregory. "I expect her to come in and compete for playing time at the center position. She has the size to compete at that position, and now she needs to add a couple of additional post moves to become a more effective scorer."
"Melanie is also a great fit academically and spiritually," Gregory added. "I think that she was really pleased with what she saw when she visited our campus. She knows that she will get a top-notch education along with a very positive athletic experience while in our basketball program."
In addition to playing basketball, Gosnell was also selected to the MAC All-Academic Team and Who's Who Among American High School Students for her efforts in the classroom.
"There are several reasons why I chose to attend MVNC," said Gosnell. "I feel that MVNC is a place where I can be challenged and also succeed in the career I choose to pursue. The college has a great atmosphere and great people."
Beavers, a 5-foot-10 forward from Circleville, Ohio, was a three-year letterwinner at Logan Elm High School. As a senior, she played in 18 games and finished with 27 points and 27 rebounds.
"Brittney is another fine addition to our 2001-2002 squad," said Gregory. "She did not tear it up offensively in high school, but she played a vital role on her team unselfishly. She is a solid defender and rebounder for her size. She has a great work ethic and attitude, and she will compete for time at the big forward position."
"Like Melanie, Brittney is a great fit at MVNC," Gregory added. "I look forward to the opportunity to coach her and help her through the maturity process in her life over the next four years."
Besides basketball, Beavers is another standout in the classroom as she has been selected to National Honor Society and named a Columbus Dispatch and Mid-State League Scholar-Athlete. She was also selected to homecoming court in 1998 and served as the student council president in 2000-2001.
"I chose to attend MVNC because of its Christian atmosphere and size," said Beavers. "Even though I had already chosen this college, when I found out I had the opportunity to play basketball, that totally sealed my decision. Playing college basketball has always been a dream of mine, and Coach Gregory is letting me fulfill this dream."
"Also, since MVNC has developed the Family and Consumer Sciences major, this allows me to study the exact thing (Fashion Merchandising track) that I want to do for the rest of my life," Beavers added. "With all of these factors put together, MVNC is the best college that will help me meet all of my life goals."
The Lady Cougars posted a 20-12 overall record this year for their second straight 20-win season. MVNC also won the National Christian College Athletic Association national title despite entering the NCCAA National Tournament as the eighth seed at the eight-team tournament.
