March 27, 2006

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Joel E. Smilow Class of '54 women's basketball coach Chris Gobrecht has announced the early-action class of 2010. Melissa Colborne, Jacqueline Erickson, Brittani Nichols and Haywood Wright will all add to a Bulldog squad that will lose only one senior to graduation.

"We are very excited to have these outstanding players join our efforts to bring the Ivy League Championship to Yale University," Gobrecht said. "All four will provide help in areas of need for our team and all four turned down Division I scholarships to pursue the great benefits of a Yale degree."

Colborne, a 5-11 guard from Calgary, Alberta, averaged 33.8 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists leading Springbank High School to 31-6 overall record, an Alberta South Central Zone Championship and a silver medal in the Alberta 3A Provincial Championships. A Rockeyview Division 41 All-Star, she led her team to various tournament championships, earning several tournament MVP honors in the process. She tallied over 50 points in four games this season.

"I expect Melissa to provide that much needed `go to player' element to our team on offense," said Gobrecht. "She can really score the ball in a number of different ways and she plays fearlessly."

Jacqueline Erickson, a 6-0 guard/forward, captained the basketball team at Woodbridge High School in Irvine, Calif., for the past two seasons. She led her team to four Sea View League championships and to the sectional quarterfinals three times. A four-time first team All-Sea View selection, she was also named league co-MVP her junior year. She averaged 14 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals this past season en route to an appearance in the CIF Division II quarterfinals, earning her Orange County Register All-Senior team recognition as well as first team All-CIF Division II honors.

"Jackie was one of the best pure shooters in the class of '06," Gobrecht said. "She is also capable of delivering the ball to the post players and providing boards at the guard position because of her size. She gives us great size with a great shot."

Nichols, a 5'9 guard from Thornwood High School in South Holland, Ill., co-captained her team to both a conference and regional championship. She averaged 11.3 points and five rebounds to garner a spot on the Northwest Indiana Times All-Area first team. She was named one of the top 50 area players by both the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune. She set a school record for most three-pointers in a career.

"Brittani is such a steadying influence for any team she plays on. She can defend up top, push the ball in transition, penetrate with the dribble and hit the three consistently, but the best part is her good judgment about when to do all of that," Gobrecht said.

Wright will bolster the already impressive Bulldog front court. The 6'2 forward played her high school ball at Sage Hill in Newport Coast, Calif., led the team to a 23-4 record and an appearance in the CIF Southern Section Division IV-A semifinal. She averaged a double-double in her senior season and was named both team and Academy League MVP and received All-CIF Division IV honors.

"Haywood will give us some much needed aggressiveness and athleticism in the post," said Gobrecht. "She is an excellent defender and rebounder and she will attack the rim on offense."

"With the anticipated improvement of all of our returning players, we truly believe we can completely turn the corner to become a winning team and a contender in the Ivy League by next year."

Report Filed by Hank Gargiulo, Yale Sports Publicity