Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus UCLA on March 29, 2026 , Loss , 58, to, 70
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Final
Women's Basketball
58
vs UCLA
70
Blue Devils Ink Four During Early Signing Period
11/19/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 19, 2001
DURHAM, N.C. - Duke University women's basketball head coach Gail Goestenkors announced on Monday the signing of four top-14 ranked high school standouts to national letters of intent for the 2002-03 academic year.
Goestenkors was able to address post and point guard needs by the signing of two post players and two point/combo guards -- Mistie Bass (Parker, Wisc./Janesville Parker HS), Lindsey Harding (Tomball, Texas/CY-Fair HS), Caitlin Howe (Rochester, N.Y./Fairport HS) and Brooke Smith (Marin Catholic, Calif./San Anselmo HS).
"I think this is an exceptional class," said Goestenkors. "Not only are they great basketball players but they are excellent students and wonderful people that will fit right in to our system. We were able to address some needs that we had in the post and point guard positions."
All four additions to the current fourth-ranked Blue Devil women's basketball program are ranked in the top 14 of the All-Star Girls Report (ASGR)-- Smith (No. 7), Bass (No. 9), Howe (No. 10) and Harding (No. 14). The ASGR ranks Duke's recruiting class as the top-rated class in the country.
Duke was able to nab two of the top point/combo guards in the nation -- Harding and Howe.
Howe has been a varsity starter for Fairport High School since she was in seventh grade, leading her squad to four Section V titles in her five years. She is an excellent 3-point shooter and is the most prized girls basketball recruit in Section V history. She averaged 24.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists as a junior and 24.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.2 steals and 3.6 assists her sophomore year. She was a USA Today Junior All-America and a fourth team Street & Smith All-America last season.
"Caitlin is the best shooter I have ever seen, bar none," said Goestenkors. "If she stays healthy, I would expect her to break every three-point shooting record we have here at Duke. She also has a great understanding of the game and would be a coach on the floor for us."
Harding, a three-year varsity player, was an adidas Top Ten Camp Upperclass All-Star, first team girls preseason All-Greater Houston team and sixth team Street & Smith All-America, after averaging 17.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.9 assists as a junior. An exceptional track & field athlete in high school, Harding presents opponents problems with her quickness, strength and all-around ability.
"Lindsey will remind people a little of Gia Perkins [Texas Tech] as she is extremely quick," said Goestenkors. "She pushes the ball up the floor very well and will fit right in to our running and pressing style of play."
Goestenkors was able to address her need of post players in the addition of Bass and Smith.
Smith is a 6-3 center who has started on the varsity squad since her freshman year. She is coming off a junior season where she lead her squad to a 31-3 record, while averaging 15.3 points, 12.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 3.0 blocks, 2.7 steals and selected adidas Top Ten Camp Upperclass All-Star and honorable mention Street & Smith All-America. As a sophomore she recorded a school record 138 blocks as she lead Marin Catholic to a 29-4 overall record and averaged 14.9 points, 11.1 rebounds, 4.2 blocks, 3.7 assists and 3.1 steals. Smith is a 4.0 student and has been selected to the Dean's List since her freshman year.
"Brooke is another player that fits well in to our running style of play," said Goestenkors. "She is very fast and works harder than any post player that I have seen at getting up and down the floor. She reminds me of Angie Welle [Iowa State] in that she gets up and down the floor very well, she works so hard, has a nice right and left hand hook, can shoot from 17 feet and is just a good all-around post player."
The most physical player Goestenkors added is Bass, a 6-2 dominating center out of Janesville Parker High School. Bass averaged 19.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks as a junior, while being named Wisconsin's Miss Basketball and Gatorade Wisconsin Player of the Year. She is a two-time USA Today Wisconsin Player of the Year, two-time Wisconsin Miss Basketball, two-time Associated Press Wisconsin Player of the Year, three-time Conference Player of the Year, third team Street & Smith All-America and named second team Parade All-America last season. The past three years Bass has led her high school team to a 75-3 record and two state championships.
"Mistie is the first true low block player that we have had here at Duke since Michele VanGorp in 1998-99," said Goestenkors. "She posts up harder and better than any high school player that I have seen, is very strong and reads the defense well. Mistie is tough to keep off the boards as well."
Goestenkors has two scholarships remaining for next season and a decision on those scholarships will not be made until the spring.
"We feel Lindsey, Caitlin, Brooke and Mistie will come in and make an immediate impact on our program," said Goestenkors. "They will be able to fill the holes we have on our team for the 2002-03 season."
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Tuesday, March 31
Tuesday, March 31
Tuesday, March 31
Tuesday, March 31
