June 6, 2008

Moraga, CA - Head coach Paul Thomas and the Saint Mary's women's basketball team should be more than pleased with their 2008-09 incoming class, as four future Gaels have garnered multiple awards in their respective divisions, leagues, and areas. Alex Carbonel, Katie Batlin, Ashlee Smith, and Amber Coatney will all come in as freshman next season, after being recognized following their final high school seasons.

Headlining the group is Alex Carbonel, a guard from American High School who was named the East Bay Girls Basketball Player of the Year by the Tri-Valley Herald. Carbonel averaged an impressive 27.8 points and 6.5 assists per game, as she helped lead American to a MVAL league playoff title. The guard finished her career at American with 2,109 points, while breaking a variety of other school records.

Local standout Katie Batlin's resume is not too shabby either, as the 5-10 guard from Miramonte High School has also earned multiple honors. Batlin is a familiar face in the Lamorinda area, and was named the Contra Costa Times Girls Basketball Player of the Year following her stellar senior season, averaging 15.5 points, 6.7 assists, 6.1 rebounds and 3.8 steals. In addition to the Contra Coast Times honor, Batlin is an East Bay Girls Basketball Second Team selection, the North Coast Section player of the Year by Cal-Hi Sports, and a two-time All-Contra Coast Times honoree. Batlin has already gotten her feet wet in her future home, as she led her squad to a North Coast Section Championship, finishing with 20 points and defeating Hercules in McKeon Pavilion, 61-53.

Rounding out the list of incoming freshmen are Ashlee Smith and Amber Coatney. Smith joins Saint Mary's from Skyview High School in Washington, where she was named to the Washington State 4A All Tournament First Team, the Associated Press 4A All-State First Team, and the Seattle-Times All-State Second Team.

Coatney is a 5-9 guard from Compton, CA and comes to Moraga after competing on a very talented Lynnwood High School team. The guard averaged 8.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 2.0 assists per game.

With 10 returnees and this solid group of new players, Thomas and the Gaels look to continue to battle in the very competitive West Coast Conference. The women's basketball season will kick off in mid-November.