Three Student-Athletes Sign Early to Play Women’s Basketball at Tech

HOUGHTON, Mich. — Michigan Tech women’s basketball coach Kim Cameron today announced that Dani Blake (Midland, Mich.), Kerry Gardner (Middleton, Wis.) and Jillian Ritchie (De Pere, Wis.) have all signed National Letters of Intent to join the Huskies’ program.

Blake is a 6-1 forward who was named to the Saginaw News and Midland Daily News Dream Teams a year ago. She averaged 8.0 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.9 steals per game en route to being named All-Saginaw Valley League First Team. Blake has averaged more than nine rebounds per game each of her first three years at Midland High.

“Dani is a defensive specialist,” said Cameron. “She is long, mobile and has a knack for the ball. She is extremely good at getting steals and deflections and chasing the ball down.”

Gardner, a 5-10 point guard, averaged 16.4 points and 4.5 assists per game as a junior at Middleton High School a year ago. She was picked as the Big Eight Conference Player of the Year while helping the Cardinals to a state quarterfinal appearance in 2009-10. As a sophomore, Gardner was part of a final four showing in the state tournament.

“Kerry is a very smart player,” said Cameron. “She can attack off the dribble and get herself to the hoop. She is crafty with her moves up top and has an incredible ability to create either for herself or her teammates. Her height will give her an advantage on both ends of the floor.”

Ritchie is a 6-0 guard/forward who averaged 8.5 points and 5.0 rebounds while helping De Pere High School reach the state title game last winter. The All-Fox River Classic Conference selection tallied seven points and four rebounds per contest as a sophomore when the Redbirds were a state semifinal participant.

“Jillian is an athlete with an incredible basketball mind,” said Cameron. “She can guard all five positions and possesses a great shooting touch.

“I’m very excited about our recruiting class. We have a great mix of players with height and versatility. All three are coming to pursue a great education, and they bring some great athletic attributes to our program.”

The three student-athletes will join the squad next fall.

The current Michigan Tech women’s basketball team is preparing to open the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference portion of its schedule. The Huskies (3-1) travel to play arch rival Northern Michigan on Saturday (Dec. 4) at 1 p.m.