Women's Basketball Signs Three
11/18/2002 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 18, 2002
Carbondale, Ill. - Southern Illinois University head women's basketball coach Lori Opp announced today that Julie Madura, Laura Cooper and Bernettra Grayer have signed national letters of intent to become Salukis in 2003-04.
Madura (5-9, G), who hails from Schaumburg, Ill., joins SIU from Conant High School, where she averaged between 11 and 13 points the last three years. Named All-Area and team MVP as a junior, Madura also registered a .830 percentage from the free throw line.
"I think Julie is a steal for us," said Opp. "She was recruited by some Ivy League schools. She has a great work ethic, can get to the basket and can shoot the ball. She also plays good defense, is extremely athletic, and I think she's going to turn a lot of heads when she gets here."
A native of Xenia, Ill., Cooper (5-9, G) has been named all-conference three straight years at Flora High School. An honorable mention all-state pick as a sophomore and Decatur all-area as a junior, Cooper made 78 three-pointers, while averaging 20 points per game last season.
"Laura is a kid that we've had the opportunity to watch for several years in our camps, so we've kind of watched her grow up," commented Opp. "She is a three-point shooter who has a blue collar work ethic. She has also improved tremendously over the course of her high school career."
Grayer (6-2, F) joins the Maroon and White from Gary, Ind., where she attended West Side High School. A three-time all-conference pick, she helped lead her team to three consecutive sectional titles. Additionally, she comes from the same high school program as former SIU standouts Kasia McClendon (1994-98) and Melaniece Bardley (1996-00).
"Bernettra was recruited pretty heavily and is a very athletic kid," concluded Opp. "She can run the floor like a deer and has a ton of potential."
In addition to Madura, Cooper and Grayer, the Saluki coaching staff will look to sign one more recruit during the early signing period.