Nov. 10, 2000
Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University women's basketball coach Steve Small announced Friday that Sara Riedeman, a 5-7 guard from Greensburg (Ind.) Community High School, has signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Lady Toppers beginning with the 2001-02 season. She is the first player to ink with Western during the fall signing period which began Wednesday and continues through Nov. 15.
"We're very excited to sign a player of Sara's ability," Small said. "We expect her to come in and make an immediate impact in our program at either the one or two guard position. She has all the tools necessary to play at the next level. Her biggest asset will be her love of the game and the passion to play that she will bring to the floor every day in practice."
Riedeman is one of the top prep shooting guards in Indiana, ranking fifth in the state (and first among juniors) in scoring last season at 24.9 points per game. She also averaged 4.0 rebounds and 3.9 steals per game while knocking down 77 three-point field goals and posting a stellar .464 three-point percentage. She is a three-time all-sectional honoree and was a high honorable mention all-state selection by the Associated Press last year. In addition, she was named to the 2000 Indiana Junior All-Star Team and is considered a prime candidate for Miss Basketball honors in the state this season.
"Playing college ball has been my dream and Western is the perfect place to do that," Riedeman said. "I liked the positive atmosphere and really enjoyed the coaches. It's a really competitive program and everyone there wants to win every time out. I just knew right away that's where I wanted to go."
"In my 11 years of coaching basketball, you only get to coach someone like Sara once in a great while," GCHS head coach Rich Ballard said. "She's the hardest-working player I've ever been around. She's in the gym any chance she gets and is constantly trying to improve her game. She's also a student of the game and has worked hard to earn everything she has achieved."
Riedeman was also a member of the 2000 Indiana AAU 17-and-under state champions, Lady Mac Magic, and was one of 13 girls' players selected to attend this year's prestigious "Tremendous Twenty-Six" preseason showcase in Indiana, presented by High School Sports, Inc. She is the first Indiana high school product to commit to WKU directly from the prep ranks in 12 years -- Scottsburg High School star and 1989 Miss Basketball Renee Westmoreland was the last native Hoosier to sign with Western. Riedeman chose to join the Lady Toppers after considering offers from Marquette, Louisville, Drake, Indiana State and James Madison. She hopes to pursue a degree in education at WKU.
"I hope I can bring some more leadership on the floor," Riedeman said. "The coaches have talked about me playing at either the point or shooting guard. It doesn't really matter to me which position I end up playing. I just want to play competitively and help the team get to the next level."
A member of the Sun Belt Conference, Western Kentucky finished with a 22-10 record last year, making the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Lady Toppers will play their final exhibition game at 7 p.m. (CST) Saturday against the Premier All-Stars at E.A. Diddle Arena. WKU opens the regular season on Friday, Nov. 17, at 6:30 p.m. against defending West Coast Conference champion Pepperdine at the Hawaiian Regent Classic in Honolulu.
-- WKU --
