May 1, 2009

Two players have signed letters of intent to attend Eastern Washington University and play for the women's basketball squad, head coach Wendy Schuller announced. The signees will begin their Eastern careers in 2009-10 after inking their names shortly after the NCAA late signing period commenced.

The new players are Carrie Ojeda and Jessica Thielen. Ojeda is a 6-1 post from Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma, Wash., while Thielen is a 5-11 forward from North Idaho College. She is a native of Jaffray, B.C., who attended Mount Baker Secondary School in nearby Cranbrook.

Ojeda averaged 18.6 points, 10.6 rebounds and 4.8 blocks per game as a senior. That campaign, she also shot 55 percent from the field and 60 percent from the free throw line. One of her most impressive outings came in a win over Mercer Island High School, when she tallied 42 points, 17 rebounds and seven blocks.

She has been named first team All-Narrows League Bay Division three times and twice helped her team to fifth-place finishes at the 4A state tournament (2006, 2007). She also competed for the MTHS soccer and track and field teams.

"Carrie is a tremendous athlete who will be an outstanding addition to our corps of post players," head coach Wendy Schuller said. "She plays with the level of toughness that is our trademark in the paint. We love how hard she rebounds, and her ability to score will make it hard to keep her off the floor."

Thielen missed this past season at NIC with an injury. The year before, she was the only freshmen in the league to be named first team All-Scenic West Athletic Conference. She ranked in the top 15 in the SWAC in six different categories. including eighth in scoring (10.9 ppg), 12th in rebounding (5.4 pg), and 11th in field goal percentage (38).

She prepped at Mount Baker Secondary School and averaged 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists per game there as a senior. Thielen was named the top female athlete at her high school, as well.

"We are excited about the addition of Jessica to our squad," Schuller said. "She is a tough, hard-nosed player who can play inside and out. She has some intangibles that will help strengthen our squad, including her maturity, work ethic and ability to lead. She has overcome a lot to get to this point, and I know she will run through a wall to help our team be successful."

Ojeda and Thielen round out the five-member recruiting class for next year. They join fall signees Nadi Carey, Jordan Schoening and Courtney Nolen.

"Nadi led her Canyon del Oro team to the Arizona 4A state championship, Jordan had a breakout season for Post Falls High School, and Courtney led her Del Oro team to the CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) Sac-Joaquin Section semifinals," Schuller said.