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Coach Carl
Graves (L) poses with new Crusader
Erin Bentley at her signing day Friday (Jan. 4). |
LIVONIA, Mich.
-- The Madonna University women's basketball program signed their
first player for the 2008-09 season today (Friday, Jan. 4).
Erin Bentley, a 5-4 guard from Ida, Michigan (Ida
HS) became the first of what the MU coaching staff hopes will be
many signings to come.
"We're very excited about signing Erin," said Madonna head coach
Carl Graves. "We believe Erin will be the first of
many great signings for next year’s team, and we are targeting the
Monroe area heavily. We believe this is a very under recruited area
of southeastern Michigan and we believe there are very talented
players here.”
"I believe that Erin can come in and challenge for immediate playing
time as a freshman,” Graves continued. "She is a good ball handler,
and an outstanding outside shooter which is very important in our
style of offense. We couldn’t be more pleased to kick-off our
signings with a student-athlete of Erin’s caliber.”
Coached by Tim Leonard at Ida
High School, Bentley was a first team all-region and all-league selection
following her junior season. As a sophomore, she was named a second team
all-league member and honorable mention all-region honoree.
Bentley has made her mark on
the Ida three-point record books, owning both the single season and career
triples records in her third season as a varsity member. She has helped lead
the Blue Streaks to a 7-1 mark this season, averaging in double-figures.
Bentley scored 16 in the squad’s lone loss last night (Thursday, Dec. 3).
The daughter of Brad and
Peggy Bentley, Erin is a four-year honor roll member and was named the 2007 Ida
High School Homecoming Queen in 2007. Her father played football and Northwood
University before transferring to Madonna University where he went through the
Criminal Justice program while her mother Peggy attended WHAC rival Siena Heights University.
Bentley has two sisters, Megan and Blair.
Graves has recruited five players from the downriver and Monroe County areas
since he took over the reins of the Madonna women's basketball program prior to
the 2006-07 season.
"Our coaching staff talked about recruiting this area from day one," commented
Graves in front of family, friends and teammates gathered at the Ida High School
library. “There is incredible talent in high school basketball in Michigan, and
we feel there are hidden gems in the Monroe County corridor. We're working
extremely hard to make contacts throughout the state, and especially in Monroe
County."
Contact:
Matt Fancett (734) 432-5610
