Nov. 26, 1997
LAS VEGAS --- The UNLV women's basketball program has signed three high school standouts to national letters of intent to attend UNLV beginning in Fall 1998, Head Coach LaDonna McClain announced Wednesday.
Erin Johansson, a 6-1 guard/forward from Enumclaw High School in Enumclaw, Wash., Sarah Onion, a 6-3 center from Sehome High School in Bellingham, Wash., and Courtney Swanson, a 5-11 guard/forward from Morse High School in San Diego, Calif., are the new Lady Rebels.
"We had a very solid early signing class this year," McClain said. "With the additions at the guard position, we will see a whole new look. Erin and Courtney can shoot the three pointer, they can drive and penetrate which are areas that we needed to focus on. With Sarah we gain some size in the post. She is refined at the position and will step in and contribute right away. These girls were all highly recruited, so we feel very fortunate that they have chosen to attend UNLV."
Johansson, who holds a 3.98 grade point average, recorded 14 points, eight rebounds and two assists per game last season earning all-conference honors as a junior. In addition to making the all-conference team, Johansson earned second-team all-state honors.
"Erin shoots well, she is very agile and is an all-around versatile player," McClain said. "She will provide us with the ability to put a very tall lineup on the floor and give us some different looks."
Onion has a 3.78 GPA and averaged 10 points, eight rebounds and two assists last year as Sehome qualified for the state tournament. Onion was selected as one of the top five post players in the state of Washington for the 1996-97 season.
"Sarah is a workhorse with an arsenal of moves under the basket," McClain said. "She is a physical player in the paint with some size, which is something that we needed.
Swanson averaged 20.8 points, 10.5 rebounds and 4.9 assists last year for Morse. "Courtney brings a powerful scoring punch to our program," McClain said. "She is a fundamentally sound athlete with a nose for the basket and finds a way to score.
