T-wolves dip into U.S. talent pool

Loralyn Murdoch has secured some much-needed size from south of the border.

On Monday, the head coach of the UNBC Northern Timberwolves women's basketball team received a commitment from Kellie Fluit, a five-foot-11 post player from Lynden, Wash. Fluit, who becomes the first American recruit in the history of UNBC women's basketball, will help ease the loss of graduated post players Erin Beckett and Maria Neumann.

"I'm hoping that this is a start to filling those holes," Murdoch said. "The fact that she's got some experience and she's had good coaching and she seems to fit the mould academically, I think it's all a positive thing for the program moving forward."

Fluit, a graduate of Lynden High School, has already played two years of college ball. She spent her first year with the Wenatchee Community College Knights and played this past season for the Whatcom Community College Orcas. By the end of the year with the Orcas, she was averaging 10 points and six rebounds per game. She's a strong positional player who has a nice touch around the bucket.

"I shoot about 50 per cent off my jumper," she said. "I'm not the fastest player or the tallest player but I'm considered a smart player with a lot of experience."

On Tuesday, see The Citizen and pgcitizen.ca for more.