Nov. 13, 2002

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Three prep standouts have signed National Letters-of-Intent to enroll at the University of Missouri and play women's basketball, head coach Cindy Stein announced today.

Blair Hardiek, a 5-foot-7 guard from Effingham (Ill.) High School, EeTisha Riddle, a 6-foot-3 forward from O'Fallon (Ill.) Township High School, and Carlynn Savant, a 6-foot-1 forward from Trinity High School in Euless, Texas, are Stein's newest crop of Tigers.

"I see all three of these players having an immediate impact on our program," said Stein. "We are very excited about this class and feel strongly that they will establish themselves among Missouri's best. These three young women are talented competitors, excellent students and wonderful people. They will bring class, intensity and a strong work ethic."

Hardiek earned First Team All-State honors from the Chicago Sun-Times, Second Team All-State plaudits from the Champaign News-Gazette and special mention on the Chicago Tribune All-State team last season, when she averaged 24.5 points and seven rebounds in leading Effingham to a school-record 20 wins. She also had a school-record 40 blocks as a point guard. Hardiek has earned Honorable Mention All-America honors from Street & Smith each of the past two years. Effingham's Most Valuable Player each of her three seasons to date and its captain this year, Hardiek chose Mizzou over USC, Kansas State, Xavier, Tulsa, and Cal.

"Blair is a true point guard with a fierce competitiveness and confidence that is needed to be successful at this level," Stein says. "She is quick and can defend in the full court with endless energy. Blair has fine passing skills and sees the floor extremely well. She is also a scorer whether it's through penetration or spotting up for the 3-point shot."

Riddle averaged 20.2 points and 11 rebounds and helped the Panthers to a 22-5 record last season. She also had 94 blocks, and was an 85-percent free-throw shooter. An Honorable Mention All-Stater by the Chicago Tribune and a Champaign News-Gazette Second-Team All-State member, Riddle chose Missouri over Illinois, Southwest Missouri State, Indiana and Kansas State. She is also a two-time Belleville News-Democrat first-team all-conference and all-area performer.

"EeTisha is an excellent athlete who will just get better and better," comments Stein. "She is a force inside. She has the athleticism to jump and shoot over taller defenders, the quickness of a guard and the soft hands that can catch anything thrown her way. She is a great rebounder, and her aggressiveness on the boards is a key strength."

Savant is a two-time Player of the Year for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram Northeast area; she earned first-team selection to the Texas Assocation of Basketball Coaches Class 5A (largest-school classification) last season, when she averaged 20.4 points and 9.6 rebounds. Savant participated last summer in USA Basketball's Women's Youth Development Festival as one of the nation's top 48 rising prep seniors, and she was recognized as an adidas Top Ten Camp Upperclass All-Star. She chose Mizzou over Arkansas, TCU, Rice and Southwest Missouri State. Carlynn's twin brother, Zach, plays high-school football.

"Carlynn is a prolific scorer - she can score from anywhere! She has the ability to post up, penetrate to the basket or pop the 3-point shot. Her versatility will be one of her key assets in our program. Carlynn is an intense competitor with excellent court sense. She is also a tremendous student and active member of the student organizations at Trinity High School."

The three signings comprise Missouri's complete recruiting class for the 2003-04 basketball season.