"Lady Cougars Sign First Recruit for 2002-2003 Season"

written by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director

   The Mount Vernon Nazarene College women's basketball team has addressed its need for more height on the interior as the Lady Cougars signed a center as their first new player for the 2002-2003 season.

   Erin Arnett, a 6-foot-1 post player from Miamisburg, Ohio, has signed a letter of intent to further her education and continue her basketball career at MVNC. As a senior at Miamisburg High School, Arnett averaged 10.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game and shot 44.9 percent from the field and 70.3 percent at the free throw line. A three-year varsity letterwinner, Arnett was named to the Mid-Miami League First Team as a senior as well as being selected to the District 15 All-Star Team and the All-Southwest District Team.

   "Erin will be a great addition to our team," said MVNC head coach Steve Gregory. "She brings with her strong leadership skills, an excellent academic record, good athletic ability, and a strong walk in her Christian faith."

   "Erin will come in and compete for playing time at the center position," Gregory added. "She has shown good skill all season long in her movement and set-up to receive the ball. We will work to continue to develop her post moves down low on the block. Erin also has a good personality and fits in well with our returning players. She is one of the foundational pieces we will look to build around for our future."

   In addtion to playing basketball, Arnett was a four-year varsity letterwinner in both volleyball and softball. She earned MML Second Team honors as a senior in volleyball and MML First Team honors as a junior in softball.

   "I chose to attend MVNC because of its great education program and friendly people," said Arnett of her college choice. "I really like the beautiful campus and chapel. Finally, I thought the MVNC women's basketball team and staff were very nice, and I felt that I would enjoy being involved in the program."

   The Lady Cougars finished the 2001-2002 season with an 8-18 overall record with a roster that featured just one senior and one junior starter after graduating the team's entire frontline the year before. In the two previous season, MVNC eclipsed the 20-win mark both times and won one National Christian College Athletic Association national title.