Nov. 19, 2003

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - The Western Washington University women's basketball team has signed four high school seniors to National Letters of Intent, Western coach Carmen Dolfo announced today.

Two of the players are from Whatcom County - 5-11 forward Liz McCarrell from Ferndale and 5-7 guard Angela Burt from Bellingham. The other two are from out-of-state - 6-2 center Gretchen Gottfried from Southridge High School in Beaverton, Ore., and 5-8 guard Elyse Hartman from Chugiak High School in Eagle River, Alaska.

"They're all great athletes and great kids," said Dolfo, who is taking a sabbatical from day-to-day coaching duties this season. "They fit into our style of play very well."

McCarrell was a first-team Associated Press Class 3A all-State pick last season, averaging 18.0 points and 6.5 rebounds while also earning Northwest League Most Valuable Player honors. She was first-team all-league pick as a sophomore, averaging a school record 22.3 points a game, and an honorable mention all-leaguer as a freshman. McCarrell, who has also lettered in track and volleyball, winning the state shot put championship as a sophomore, holds school single-game records for points (40) and steals (9).

"We feel real fortunate to have Liz," Dolfo said. "She has a ton of potential and can be a great player at Western. Liz can do a lot of different things, can score inside and outside, but I think her biggest strength is her athleticism."

Burt was also a first-team Class 3A all-state pick last year, as she averaged 12.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 3.5 steals. She was a first-team all-NWL pick the last two years, and a second-team selection as a freshman. She has also lettered in cross country and track, running in four state finals on relay teams.

"She's a great athlete, a player with a lot of untapped potential," said Dolfo. "She's just so fast - she has a quick first step and great endurance."

Gottfried averaged 10.0 points and 8.0 rebounds last season, helping Southridge place sixth at the Oregon Class 4A state tournament. She also started as a sophomore.

"We only have 10 players and two redshirts, and we lose two of our top post players, so we wanted to sign this class early," Dolfo said. "We feel real secure in the decisions we've made."

The Vikings, who open the 2003-04 season Friday by hosting New Mexico Highlands University as part of the WWU/Lynda Goodrich Classic, are on a school-record streak of six consecutive 20-win seasons, making national tournament appearances each of those years.