Nov. 10, 2000

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Women's basketball head coach Chris Denker announced the signing of Kim Butler, of Tacoma, Wash., to a National Letter of Intent. Butler joins a trio of Washingtonians that signed Wednesday: Quinn Thomas of Kent, Kayla Huss of Everett and Tina Donahue of Stanwood. Butler is the younger sister of sophomore Bronco forward Julie Butler.

Denker said he has one more scholarship available and will look to sign another player during the spring signing period, which begins April 15.

With the newcomers, the 2001-02 squad will comprise nine players from the state of Washington. Returning to the team next year will be Becki Ashbaugh of Bellevue, Tammy Annas of Enumclaw, Jennie Rondel of Kirkland, Julie Butler of Tacoma and Courtney Cushing of Brush Prairie.

Butler, a 6-1 forward from Bellarmine Prep, has earned first team All-Narrows League honors every year and averaged 17 points, 9 rebounds and two steals last season. She is also an All-State soccer player and scored the game-tying goal and the game-winner in a shootout on Tuesday to advance her team through the state tournament. Additionally, Butler was a soccer teammate of current Bronco midfielder Kerry Cathcart.

"We would have recruited Kim and made every intent to sign her whether her sister played here or not," Denker said. "She's an outstanding player, an extremely good rebounder and shoots well from the high post. We also like her inside-outside skills. She plays a game very similar to one of our current seniors, Jen Glysson."

Thomas is a 5-9 point guard from Kent-Meridian High School and averaged 18.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.2 steals per contest in addition to being named one of USA Today's top 25 players from the state of Washington.

Huss, a 5-9 backcourt player from Cascade High School, led her team to the 4A Championships last season, the school's first appearance in the playoffs in 34 years. Huss averaged 18.8 points, 3.6 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game in addition to shooting 40 percent from the three-point line.

Donahue, a 6-1 forward from Stanwood High School averaged 14.2 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.6 blocks and 3.2 steals per contest last season.

"These four are going to present our program with a lot of new things," Denker said. "They're going to help stabilize our three-point shooting core, which we felt we lost a little last year with the departure of Katie Pursley and Stephanie Rogers. We're also going to improve areas of athleticism, defense and rebounding."

Santa Clara posted two exhibition wins in the last week. The Broncos open the regular season vs. Pacific on Sat., Nov. 18, at Bellarmine Prep's Gymnasium at 8 p.m. The game is free to attend.

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