Hartsville, SC- Carol Meegan, Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Coker College, announced the signing of six new players to National Letters of Intent to play basketball for the Lady Cobras in 2006-2007.

The six new faces are a very diverse group, including two women from Finland, one from Australia, one from Canada, a Californian and last but not least one from Columbia, SC. 

Henna Koponen and Lotta Aaltonen are a pair of 5’10” forwards from Vantaa, Finland. According to Coach Meegan, “Both girls are very excited to be coming to Coker and to the United States, and we are very happy to have them as a part of the women’s basketball team.”

Madison Bycroft hails from Mt. Barker, South Australia, where she played in the 2003 and 2004 Australian Junior National Championships. She was named District Club MVP in 2003 and 2004.  When asked about coming to Coker College in the fall, Madison said, “I am very excited about studying at Coker College this year, I hope to have a great time in a different country and I hope to learn a lot too.” Bycroft plans to study the visual arts while at Coker.

Coming from Brockville, Ontario, Canada, is Heidi Rienstra. She was captain of her high school and club teams, averaging 11 points, eight rebounds and five steals per game. Rienstra was the recipient of four all-star/MVP awards this season and was named an Ontario Scholar. She also competed in volleyball, cross country and track in high school.

Transferring from Ventura College is Rebecca Kolbeck. Rebecca is the sister of former Cobra player and current assistant coach Rachael Kolbeck. Rebecca Received First Team All-WSC honors at Ventura, along with being named the Female Athlete of the Year for the Women’s Basketball Team in 2006. She averaged eight points and 5.3 rebounds per game.

Destinee Cole of West Columbia, SC, is the sixth signee for Meegan. Cole received the Coaches Award and was a two-year letterman at Brookland-Cayce High School. Cole said, “I am honored to have been chosen be Coker to play basketball, and I am looking forward to my time as a Cobra.”

Coach Meegan said, “I am extremely excited about all of these girls coming to Coker and is looking forward to seeing what the future holds for them. They all will make immediate impacts both on and off the court at Coker College.”

For more information on Coker College or the Coker College Women’s Basketball Team, visit www.cokercobras.com.