SCU Women's Basketball Signs Five To National Letters Of Intent

Dec. 8, 2008

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara first-year head coach Jennifer Mountain announced the signing of five players to national letters of intent this week. Ashley Armstrong, Meagan Fulps, Theresa Thomas, Noelani Viloria and Ruta Zurauskyte will attend Santa Clara University in the fall of 2009.

"We are thrilled about our first class here at Santa Clara," said Mountain. "We have a combination of athletic, competitive and skilled student-athletes that will step in and contribute right away. We recruited players with a great passion for the game and that come to us from great high school programs. One of the nicest things about this is class is its combination of an inside/outside presence that will set the tone for future classes to come."

2009-10 Santa Clara Recruiting Class (alphabetical order)

Ashley Armstrong
Reno, Calif. (Bishop Manogue HS (Nev.))
Guard - 5-11
A 5-foot-11 guard from Reno, Calif., has been a varsity starter for Bishop Manogue High School in Nevada for three years. She is a two-time all-region and All-Sierra League first team honoree as well as a two-time all-state/all-north second team selection. From 2005-08, Armstrong has also received All-State academic honors. As a junior she averaged 16.2 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, while dishing out 3.3 assists and 2.8 steals per game. Armstrong shot 74 percent from the field in 2007-08. As a sophomore, she averaged a double-double with 15.2 points and 10.4 rebounds per game.

Meagan Fulps
Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Highlands Ranch HS)
Guard - 5-7
Fulps ranks in the top-35 Class of 2009 and as one of the top-10 recruits from Colorado. A 5-foot-7 guard from Highlands Ranch, Colo., Fulps helped Highlands Ranch to three state championships and a No. 7 national ranking in 2007-08. She was named to the 2008 Colorado All-Conference team as well as the 2008 State all-tournament team. Rocky Mountain News named her the Most Improved Player and an honorable mention in 2008, while the Denver Post placed Fulps on its all-state second team. As a junior, she averaged 14.2 points per game and compiled an 82.0 free throw percentage. She has scored a career-high 29 points in a single game that included six three-pointers.

Theresa Thomas
Visalia, Calif. (Redwood HS)
Forward - 6-2
Thomas joins the Broncos from Redwood High School in Visalia, Calif. The 6-foot-2 post player is a two-time first team All- West Yosemite League honoree. As a sophomore she was named MVP of the Porterville Tiny Hill Classic Tournament and was a first team all-tournament selection as a freshman. Thomas has received three team awards while at Redwood. As a freshman, she was named Rookie of the Year, as a sophomore she received Offensive Player of the Year honors and as a junior, was named Defensive Player of the Year. In 2007-08 she averaged 12.9 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 59 percent from the free throw line.

Noelani Viloria
Huntington Beach, Calif. (Huntington Beach HS)
Guard - 5-10
As a junior at Huntington Beach High School, Viloria averaged 17.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, while dishing out 3.1 assists and steals per game. She is a three-time All-Sunset League first team selection and a three-time Centurion Classic All-Tournament honoree. As a sophomore and junior, Viloria was named MVP of the Nike Tournament of Champions; and in 2007-08, she was named MVP of the San Marcos Excalibur Classic. Huntington Beach's principal has also honored Viloria with the Award for Athlete with Academic Excellence.

Ruta Zurauskyte
Siauliai, Lithuania (Regis Jesuit HS (Colo.))
Forward - 6-4
Zurauskyte is a 6-foot-4 forward from Regis Jesuit High School. Originally from Siauliai, Lithuania, Zurauskyte has the potential to dominate on both ends of the floor. She is extremely agile and runs the floor very well for her size. Her international experience playing for the Lithuania U16 National team will help prepare her for playing at the collegiate level.