Signing Day Preview: Bobcat Women

This Wednesday will be the start of the spring signing day which will go until mid May and I wanted to update on various rumors and as well as my opinion (guess) on what the four programs are doing and who they could sign during the late period.

The current trend that all four programs have been following the past 3-4 years is to primarily sign high school kids in the early period and JC transfers in the late period, and this year they look to no different.

Bobcat Women:

Signed in the Fall:

Ausha Cole 5-7 Guard – Gilbert AZ
Kate Webb 5-8 Guard – Runaway Bay, Queensland, AU
Emily Allen 6-0 Combo Forward – Runaway Bay, Queensland, AU

Commits

None

Scholarship status:

The Bobcat Women have one scholarship still to be filled. I believe they are looking for a junior college 4 or 5, but I would not rule out a high school player. Given the fact, that Binford has never filled all of her scholarships in any given year since she has been the Bobcat head coach, it would also not surprise me if she could not find the right player that she kept the scholarship open and saved it until next year.

Bobcat Women pick up another Australian commit

I have heard that the Tricia Binford and her Montana State basketball program have picked up another commitment from an Australian. I have heard that 6-0 Juliana Paunovic has committed to sign with the Bobcat this spring and joint the team next fall. Paunovic is a small forward / power forward who currently is attending Casper junior college in Wyoming. She hails from the town of Cairns, in the State of Queensland in Australia.

This year at Casper she is averaging 14 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals 1 block, while shooting 46% from the field, 30% beyond the 3 point arc and, 71% free-throw line. As a freshman Paunovic suffered a shoulder injury that limited her games but still managed to average 10 points and 5 rebounds a game. Last summer after undergoing surgery on her shoulder she retuned home and played for Cairns Dolphins U20 Round 11 team and averaged 19 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists per game.

Casper currently is rated in the National Junior College Division 1 top 20, and has a very balanced team and will most likely send multiple players to the D-1 level.

Pauvovic last season was named to the Region IX Academic All-Region first team.

Here are some comments from Casper College coach Dwight Gunnare