‘Eaters scour planet for talent

IRVINE ? UC Irvine women’s basketball coach Molly Tuter went global in addressing the team’s need for height and athleticism.

On Wednesday, Tuter announced the signing of six players to national letters of intent, including two from the Netherlands, one from Belgium and one from Latvia.

Naomi Halman, a 6-foot-4 forward-center, and Rebecca Maessen, a 5-10 guard, hail from the Netherlands. Both played for Yellow Bike Dames Bicycle Club, though Maessen most recently played at Antelope Valley College.

Halman has been a member of the Dutch National Team since the age of 16. She averaged 17 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game last year for Yellow Bike Dames. Maessen, who attended Antelope Valley last year but did not play due to an injury, averaged 10.3 points and 4.1 assists per game in two seasons for Yellow Bike Dames.

Klinta Lisnere is a 6-3 center from Riga, Latvia who averaged 15 points and 12 rebounds for club TTT Riga last year. She also was a member of the Under-18 Latvia National Team that competed in the FIBA Championships last year.

Tracey Wittebolle is a 6-3 forward from Ieper, Belgium who averaged 15 rebounds a game for BBC Dames last year. She’s a member of the Belgian Jr. National Team.

The Anteaters also signed 6-2 forward Stephanie Soloman and 5-6 guard Keyonna Johnson. Soloman averaged 5.0 points and 11.6 rebounds for Pasadena City College last year. Johnson led Diamond Ranch in steals (3.3 per game) and averaged 3.4 assists per game as the Panthers won the CIF Southern Section Division III-AA title.

“I felt our weakness last year was height and athleticism,” Tuter said in a press release. “With the addition of these six players, we have filled that void.”dpt-ucisign25.IMGGraphicInfoPB1RACR920060525PB1RACR9No Caption