Aug. 26, 2007

FAIRBANKS, AK - Alaska women's basketball head coach Lynne Andrew announced the signing of Nada Erhardt of Surrey, British Columbia on Monday. A transfer from Henderson State University in Arkansas, she will enroll at the University of Alaska Fairbanks as a junior this fall and have two years of NCAA eligibility remaining.

"I've been impressed with Nada's ability as far back as high school: we initially recruited her to come here, even though she eventually chose to go to HSU," said Andrew. "She is a good, solid, fundamental player, and we expect that she will give us valuable minutes on the floor. She has the potential to play at a number of different positions, so it will be up to her to come in here and find her spot."

Erhardt joins the Nanooks after two seasons at Henderson State University. Despite the team's guard-heavy roster that made playing time highly competitive, Erhardt managed to appear in 26 games in her two years for the Lady Reddies. She recorded a career-high six points against Harris-Stowe State University on Dec. 17, 2005. Erhardt was a member of the 2005-06 Lady Reddies team that made it to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament, and rose to the top of the NCAA Division II rankings.

"I spoke to her coach at Henderson State, and he told me that no one works harder in practice than Nada does," said Andrew. "That's a great comment to hear about someone coming into your program, and really says a lot about Nada."

Before joining Henderson State, Erhardt was a standout performer for Semiahmoo Secondary School. A five time letterwinner for the Totums, Erhardt averaged 20 points, four assists, five steals, and seven rebounds in her senior season, earning her a spot on both the British Columbia Provincial High School All-Star team as well as a Surrey Firefighters Goodwill All-Star selection. She was named Semiahmoo Secondary MVP four times, and, in 2002, received the school's Best Defensive Player award.

Basketball runs in Erhardt's family: her adopted grandpa is former Harlem Globetrotters member Mel "Trick" Davis, who she credits for teaching her to love of the game of basketball.

Erhardt becomes the Nanooks' sixth signing this close season, joining fellow guards Caitlin Hamsley (North Pole, AK), Anna Simmons (Simi Valley, CA) and Nicole DeRosier (Puyallup, WA) as well as center Nicole Bozek (Mukilteo, WA) and forward Amonda Francis (Coquitlam, British Columbia).