THREE SIGN TO PLAY WOMEN'S BASKETBALL AT EAST CAROLINA
November 14, 2005 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 14, 2005
GREENVILLE, N.C. -- East Carolina University head women's basketball coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener announced today that Lauren Cochran (Dunn, N.C.), Shana Franks (Wilmington, N.C.) and Erica Crumlin (Irmo, S.C.) have each signed National Letters of Intent to join the Lady Pirates for the 2006-07 campaign.
Cochran, a 2005 McDonald's All-American and Wendy's Naismith Heisman Award nominee, joins the Pirates from Midway High School where she has scored 1,262 points, grabbed 914 rebounds and recorded 256 blocks through her junior season. Listed as one of the top recruited players in the southeast by Blue Chips Basketball, she is one of the top 150 recruits in the United States.
As a junior, she was named first team all-state as well as earning runner-up 1A North Carolina Player-of-the-Year honors. During her three year career, Cochran has been a Cape Fear all-region selection in 2004 and `05, named Most Valuable Player of the Super Six and Christmas Class Tournament. In 2005 her team played the National Junior Olympics representing the North Carolina squad, following a second place performance in 2004.
"Lauren has good size, is a great rebounder and shot blocker," said Baldwin-Tener. "She has great hands and a very nice touch around the basket. She has an imposing presence in the paint and we look for her to have a very bright future at ECU."
As a junior, Franks averaged 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists per game. The Hoggard High School 2004-05 team Most Valuable Player is the reigning Mideastern Conference Player-of-the-Year, while earning recognition as first team all-area and being named first team Wilmington Star News.
"Shana is a strong athletic versatile guard," stated Baldwin-Tener. "She looks to push the ball and is a great passer. She is a tough nosed competitor and we look for her to bring intensity and aggressiveness to our program."
Crumlin, a 6-2 forward/center, signed with the Lady Pirates after a strong 2004-05 season in which she averaged seven points, 10 rebounds and three blocks per contest. The three sport athlete, which also plays volleyball and runs track, led her team to the Class 4A Region 5 championship in each of the last three seasons.
"Erica comes from a great high school program in Dutch Fork," says Baldwin-Tener. "Coach Anne Long does a great job of preparing her players for the next level. Erica is an athletic post player who runs the floor extremely well and is a great rebounder. Her best basketball is ahead of her. She has a ton of potential to be a good player for us."
"We are all very excited about the addition of these three young ladies to the Lady Pirate Family," Baldwin-Tener said. "Our coaching staff did a good job of recognizing players that fit the need of this program, by signing players that can come in and contribute right away."
2006-07 East Carolina Women's Basketball Signees:
Name -- Pos. -- Ht. -- Yr. -- Hometown
Lauren Cochran -- Forward/Center -- 6-5 - Fr. - Dunn, N.C.
Shana Franks - Guard - 5-9 - Fr. - Wilmington, N.C.
Erica Crumlin - Forward/Center - 6-2 - Fr. - Irmo, S.C.
