Junior college point guard Desiree Gutierrez has joined high-scoring prep guard Sara Stevenson have signed national letters of intent for basketball at Illinois State.
Guiterrez, a 5-foot-6 player from Thornton, Colo., led her Western Nebraska Community College team to the National Junior College Athletic Association finals last year. She was an honorable mention all-stater at Thornton High School,where she was a four-year starter before graduating in 2000.
Stevenson signed late last week.
Illinois State coach Jenny Yopp believes the two guards can add important ingredients to the Redbird mix.
Sara and Desiree are both first-class people who will excel in this program, said Yopp. They fit in with the positive chemistry we have right now.
Entering her senior season at East Richland High School in Olney, Ill., the 5-foot-8 Stevenson already has scored 1,674 points and has 495 career steals. A long-range shooting threat, Stevenson had 156 three-pointers during her sophomore and junior seasons. In her first three prep seasons, she led East Richland to 63 wins and just 27 losses. A high-honors student in the classroom, she also has been a two-time honorable-mention all-state selection in doubles tennis.
Yopp is still looking for a pair of post players to complete her recruiting class.
We expect to find two post players for the spring signing period, said Yopp.
2001-02 ILLINOIS STATE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SIGNEES
FALL, 2001: Desiree Gutierrez, 5-6, G, Thornton, Colo. (Thornton H.S./Western Nebraska C.C.)
Sara Stevenson, 5-8, G, Olney, Ill. (East Richland H.S.)
-- 30 --
DESIREE GUTIERREZ, 5-6, G,
Thornton High School, Thornton, Colo.
(Western Nebraska Community College, Scottsbluff, Neb.)
GUTIERREZ NOTES: Led Western Nebraska to 2001 national junior college finals ... team won Region IX title and Gutierrez was all-tournament ... as a prep player, she was lst team all-conference and honorable mention all-state ... junior college coach was Dave Harnish ... plans to major in business ... daughter of Steve and Carol Gutierrez, with brother Andrew and sister Daniele ... full name is Desiree Marie Gutierrez, born 3-13-82 in Germany ... name pronounced DEZ-uh-ray goo-TARE-ez.
QUOTING DESIREE: "I just loved the Illinois State campus. That, and the college town atmosphere really impressed me ... Coach Yopp knows what she is talking about and is very sincere and honest with people ... Redbird Arena is a nice place to play and I have heard that the fans are great ... I want to be part of the success at Illinois State. They gave me an opportunity; I wanted to make my decision early and the best opportunity for me is at Illinois State."
COACH JENNY YOPP ON DESIREE
"We feel fortunate to find a point guard with her skill and athleticism who can help us immediately. Des has an uncanny ability to handle and distribute the basketball. She is physically strong and quick and we are excited about the fantastic point guard duo of Desiree and Taren OBrien."
SARA STEVENSON, 5-8, G,
East Richland H.S., Olney, Ill.
STEVENSON NOTES: Illinois Miss Basketball candidate ... Chicago Tribune all-state team ... Illinois Basketball Coaches All-Star Team ... four-year starter who has led her team to 20 or more wins each year (22-8 in 1999, 21-8 in 2000 and 20-11 in 2001) ... averaged 11.5 points as a freshman, 20.7 as a sophomore and 23.5 as a junior ... had 74 3-pointers as a sophomore and 82 as a junior ... had 1,674 career points and 495 career steals in first three years ... averaged 6.0 steals per game as a junior ... honorable mention all-state tennis player in doubles as a sophomore and senior ... all-state track athlete as a freshman and sophomore in 800 meters, also partcipating in mile relay and high jump ... prep coach is Curt Dobbs ... major is undecided ... daughter of Randy and Susan Stevenson, with sisters Lindsey (a track student-athlete at Southeast Missouri State) and Taylor ... full name is Sara Colleen Stevenson, born 3-6-84 in Vincennes, Ind.
QUOTING SARA: "I was impressed with the coaches and players at Illinois State. They seem committed and know what it takes to win ... one of my goals is to help Illinois State get back to being a top team in the Missouri Valley ... I like the up-tempo style at Illinois State, which is similar to what we play in high school ... Redbird Arena has a uniqueness about it that makes it a great place to play."
COACH JENNY YOPP ON SARA:
"We believe Sara is one of the most accurate shooters in the state of Illinois. She is an athletic and versatile guard who adds scoring punch and defense to our program. Sara is fundamentally sound and has a real passion for the game of basketball."
