Northwestern University Athletics
Women's Hoops Signs Four
11/19/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 19, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern women's basketball head coach June Olkowski announced today the signing of four players to National Letters of Intent. Three members of the Class of 2008 hail from the Midwest while the fourth is an international player from Turkey.
"My staff and I couldn't have asked for a better fit for the future of Northwestern women's basketball," said Olkowski. "All four are in tune with what we are trying to accomplish as a team from the offensive scheme to the defensive work ethic. They fit every aspect of a successful Northwestern student-athlete."
Kelly Rae Finley, a 6-2 forward from Edina, Minn., and Melissa Miller, a 6-1 guard from Bloomington, Minn., have been teammates since seventh grade and currently attend Breck School in Minneapolis. Both are currently coached by Finley's father, Ray.
"Kelly has great range and is a perimeter player," said Olkowski. "Melissa is known for her rebounding and she's a physical player. Each has had success personally in basketball and are members of a winning team, something that can't be underestimated. Both are very skilled and fit into the scheme of our program perfectly, both academically and athletically."
Sara Stutz will be the second player to come from Glenbrook South high school, following former Wildcat Dana Leonard. The 6-0 guard is from Glenview, Ill.
"Sara can literally play any position," said Olkowski. "She's a hardworking athlete and may have been overlooked because of the other big names in Illinois, but I believe she'll have as successful a college career as any one of them."
The fourth early signee is Olkowski's third international player in two years. Nazli Meltem comes to NU from Turkey where she played for Tarsus American and was a member of the Turkish National Team.
"Nazli comes from a basketball family where both parents played pro ball and for the Turkish National Team," said Olkowski. "She faces the basket well, has great three-point range, and is a good passer. Most importantly, she's a hard worker and a bright student-athlete."
Full biographies of the women's basketball signees appear below.
Kelly Rae Finley
6-2
Edina, Minn./Breck School
High School: five-time letterwinner and starter... team captain in 2002 and 2004 ... all-Conference (Tri-Metro) from 1999-2003 ... all-Metro 2001 (HM), 2002, 2003 ... all-State Tournament Team 2002) ... all-state (Associated Press) 2002 (HM), 2003 ... all-Metro 2001 (HM) 2002, 2003 ... Star Tribune all-State (HM) 2002, 2003 ... Minnesota Basketball News all-State (HM) 2002, 2002, 2003 ... Pioneer Press all-State (HM) 2001, 2002, 2003 ... pre-season Minnesota Basketball News all-State 2003, 2004 ... pre-season Street & Smith all-American (HM) 2004 ... Breck's all-time assists leader ...played 125 games in five seasons at Breck ... averaged 11.9 points/gm, 9.4 rebounds/gm and 5.2 assists/gm in high school ... helped Breck to 2nd place finish in the 2003 Minnesota State High School Girls Basketball Championship ... Breck also placed 3rd in the State Championship in 2002 ... AAU team is the Minnesota Metro Stars
Personal: born Kelly Rae Finley on 4/27/1985 ... parents are Mary Jane and Ray Finley ... Honor Roll student
Melissa Miller
6-1
Bloomington, Minn./Breck School
High School: three-time letterwinner and starter ... all-Conference (Tri-Metro) 2001 (HM), 2002, 2003 ... Breck's team leader in scoring and rebounding 2002, 2003 ... Most Improved Player in 2002 ... Breck MVP in 2002, 2003 ... Tri-Metro Conference MVP in 2002, 2003 ... Star Tribune all-Metro second team 2002, 2003 ... Minnesota Coaches Association all-State 2002 (HM0, 2003 ... all-State Tournament Team 2002 ... Pioneer Press all-State second team 2002 ... averaged 16 points/gm, 11 rebounds/gm, two steals/gm and four assists/gm in high school ... helped Breck to 2nd place finish in the 2003 Minnesota State High School Girls Basketball Championship ... Breck also placed 3rd in the State Championship in 2002 ... AAU team is the Minnesota Metro Stars
Personal: born Melissa A. Miller on 8/12/1985 ... parents are Kathryn and Dan Miller ... also played volleyball at Breck ... ran cross country and track in high school ... Honor Roll student
Sara Stutz
6-0
Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South
High School: named to the All-Stars Girls Report Top 250 Class of 2004 ... Street & Smith all-American (HM) 2003 ... Sun Times all-Area second team 2003 ... Glenbrook co-captain and co-MVP in 2003 ... Central Suburban League all-Conference team 2003 ... Pioneer Press North all-Star team 2003 ... averaged 12.6 points/gm, 5.8 rebounds/gm and 3.7 assists/gm in high school ... AAU team is the Illinois Hustle
Personal: born Sara T. Stutz on 5/23/1966 ... parents are Cathy and Jim Stutz ... member of the National Honor Society and Cum Laude Society at Glenbrook South
Nazli Senol
6-1
Mersin, Turkey/Tarsus American
High School: leads the school league in scoring, rebounding and blocking ... played with Galatasaray, IUSK and Mersin club basketball teams ... won one national, four regional and five city championships with those teams ... member of the Turkish Junior National team ... six-time team MVP ... four-time city MVP ... SEV Tournament MVP for four consecutive years ... four-year captain at Tarsus
Personal: born Meltem Nazli Senol on 3/19/1986 ... parents are Meltem and Levent Senol ... parents were both pro athletes and former National team members ... member of the swim team for five years ... secretary general for Model United Nations Club
