WCC: U of P Women`s Hoops Inks Three

Photo: portlandpilots.com

PORTLAND - Two Northwest prep standouts and one Australian international have signed national letters of intent to play women’s basketball at the University of Portland, head coach Jim Sollars announced Thursday.

Jessica Clemens (Burns, Ore./Burns HS), Tara Cronin (Spokane, Wash./Gonzaga Prep) and Lauren Angel (Wollongong, Australia/St. Mary Star of the Sea) have all committed to play on The Bluff next season.

Jessica Clemens is a 6-0 forward from Burns High School in Burns, Ore. She was named the Oregon 3A State Player of the Year in 2005, averaging 16.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game while leading the Hilanders to a perfect 30-0 record and the team’s second state championship in three seasons.

Clemens was also named second team All-State as a sophomore and third team All-State as a freshman.

Clemens will also play volleyball on The Bluff and just recently won her second state Player of the Year in volleyball after leading Burns two its second consecutive state championship.

Clemens also has an individual state title in the javelin.

"Jessica is exactly what you want to see in a college freshman," Sollars said. "She is one of the top four or five athletes in the Pacific Northwest and can play inside and outside. I’m hoping she’ll be able to step in right away and be an impact player for us."

Jessica is only the latest member of the Clemens family to make her mark on the Oregon sports scene.

Her sister Maria, who started as an outside hitter in volleyball for the Pilots as a freshman in 2006, was a first team all-state selection in both volleyball and basketball and was a state champion in the long jump.

Her brother Kellen currently plays for the NFL’s New York Jets after starting for three years at quarterback for the University of Oregon.

Her father also played football at Portland State.

Tara Cronin is a 5-10 guard/forward and is a four-year letter winner at Gonzaga Prep in Spokane, Wash.

She is a McDonald’s All-American nominee for the 2006-07 season and was also named to the 2006 Street and Smith’s pre-season All-American High School basketball team.

Tara was named her team MVP her junior season, averaging 17 points per game while leading the Bullpups in scoring and rebounding.

Named team captain for the ’06-’07 season, Cronin is a two-time All-Greater Spokane League Academic Team selection and a four-year National Honors student.

"Tara is a very bright, solid player," Sollars said. "She can play every position from point guard to post, has excellent range on her jump shot, and really knows how to play the game. She is very hard-working, is an excellent student, and played in one the most competitive high school basketball leagues in the country."

Cronin is also a standout on the soccer pitch, earning three letters and being twice named to the All-Greater Spokane League First Team and earning honorable mention all-state honors in 2006.

Lauren Angel stands 6’2" and is a forward/center for the Wollongong Kittyhawks club team and the New South Wales state team. She helped lead the New South Wales U-18 team to a national championship in 2005.

"Lauren is a strong inside player, excellent rebounder and has a good touch around the basket," Sollars said. "She is a very physical player who we are happy to have."

Angel will give the Pilots four Australian natives on the roster next year.

Junior center Rachel Warren (Brisbane) is Portland’s top rebounder (7.7 rpg) and is second on the team in scoring (10.6 ppg).

She is currently working her way back from a foot injury.

Junior forward Meagan Bermingham (Melbourne) is utilizing her redshirt season in 2006-07, while freshman forward Laura Thomas (Melbourne) has appeared in all 26 games, making seven starts, and has posted three double-doubles this year.

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