Nov. 8, 2000

SPOKANE, Wash. - First year Gonzaga University women's basketball head coach Kelly Graves has gotten off to a quick start in the rebuilding of the Bulldogs basketball program as he added three players for next season in Wednesday's first day of the early signing period. Signing letters-of-intent are Shannon Mathews (Riverside, CA), Raeanna Jewell (Veradale, WA), and Juliann Laney (Sprague, WA).

Mathews comes to Gonzaga from J.W. North High in Riverside, CA, where she averaged 10 points, 5 assists and 5 steals per game as a junior. The 5-6 guard has been an All-League selection all three years and helped lead head coach John Reinhold's club to three straight league titles. During her sophomore and junior seasons, Mathews was named an All-CIF and All-State selection and was an integral part of North High's 2000 CIF championship team. Mathews is also a member of one of the top AAU programs in the country playing for coach Russ Davis on the California Swish AAU team. Gonzaga head coach Kelly Graves is excited about bringing Mathews to the Pacific Northwest. "Shannon is an extremely gifted point guard who comes from a terrific winning backgournd. She is a solid point guard who just knows and understands the game. She makes all of those around her better and coming from a winning background, Shannon knows nothing but success."

Jewell comes to Gonzaga from just down the road at Central Valley High in Spokane. As a junior she averaged 17 points, 7 rebounds and 4 steals a game while shooting 49 percent from the field and 78 percent from the free throw line. The 5-10 guard/forward was the Greater Spokane League Player of the Year as a junior playing for head coach Dale Poffenroth. Jewell was also a second-team All-State 4A selection as well as a Basketball Congress International All-America selection. Jewell also plays as a member of the Spokane Stars AAU team for coach Ron Adams. "Raeanna is an unbelievable competitor who has a terrific understanding of the game," stated Graves. "She is a great defender and a versatile player that will do whatever it takes for her team to succeed. We are very excited to have her in our program."

Laney comes to Gonzaga from Gonzaga Prep in Spokane as one of the top scorers in Greater Spokane League history. The 6-0 guard needs just 153 points this season to become the GSL's all-time leading scorer to surpass Crystal Lee (currently a senior at the University of Hawai'i). Laney is a two-time first-team All-GSL selection and a Basketball Congress International All-America selection. Playing for coach Mike Arte at Gonzaga Prep, Laney averaged 12.5 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists a game as a sophomore before compiling 15 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals a game last season. Laney is a teammate of Raeanne Jewell on the Spokane Stars AAU team for coach Ron Adams. Graves sees something special in Laney and is happy she chose to play her college basketball in Spokane. "I'm thrilled that Juliann is part of the Gonzaga family. Juliann is truly a special player who has the ability to be be one of the best players in our conference. She can play a number of positions and shoots the ball so well. Juliann has a great feel for the game and is an incredible passer."

Graves is building a foundation and credits this first recruiting class for setting the tone for years to follow. "We are very excited about these young women and the impact they will have on our program, as students, as athletes and as quality young women. All three are competitors and have great understanding of the game. Juliann and Raeanne, two of the best players in the area, give us versatility on the perimeter, and both have the ability to play immediately. I'm especially excited that two of the best local players believe Gonzaga was the best choice for them. Shannon gives us a winner who is as solid a point guard as there is in the west. This is a tremendous day for Gonzaga women's basketball."