Lady Eagles Add Sixth Signee for '09-'10 Season

June 1, 2009

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - Point guard Cassie Bates (Fremont, Ca.) will join the Carson-Newman Lady Eagles for the 2009-'10 season, C-N head coach Dean Walsh announced Friday.

The junior-college transfer will have three years of eligibility remaining after playing one season at Ohlone Junior College in Fremont, Ca.

Bates helped guide her team to a perfect (12-0) conference record and a 19-12 record overall during the '08-'09 season. Ohlone lost in the "Sweet 16" of the California Junior College state playoffs. As a freshman, she was named first team All-Coast Conference and third-team California Junior College All-State. She was also named co-MVP of her team and Renegade of the Year.

"Cassie is very fast and athletic with great leadership skills and should fit very nicely in our "up-tempo" system, Walsh said of his most recent signee. "We are extremely fortunate to have a player of Cassie's caliber join us at this point in the recruiting process. Her motor never stops and she is relentless on defense, which will be key to our pressing and defensive schemes."

Bates led her team in assists (3.3 per game) and three-point shooting (36 percent), while finishing second on the team in steals (3.0 /gm.) and third in scoring (10 points per game). She shot 46 percent from the floor during her freshman year.

The Washington High School graduate was a two-time all-league player and earned athlete of the week honors several times during her high school career.

With the addition of Bates, the Carson-Newman signing class is now at six. She joins early signees Courdne Miles (Graham, N.C.), Dominique Jackson (David, Fla.), Candis Clear (Memphis, Tenn.), Natasha Phillips (Clarkrange, Tenn.), and Whitney Moody (Blountsville, Tenn.).

C-N was 19-11 last season, reaching the NCAA Tournament for the third time in five seasons.