Miller, Falcons Sign Three to National Letters of Intent

Bowling Green State University women's basketball head coach Curt Miller has announced the signing of three student-athletes, all Ohio natives, to National Letters of Intent. Jillian Halfhill (Canfield, Ohio), Jill Stein (Clyde, Ohio) and Noelle Yoder (Millersburg, Ohio) will join the Falcon program for the 2010-11 academic year.

BGSU SIGNEES RELEASE - PDF

“We are very excited about our 2010 recruiting class,” said Miller. “Jillian, Jill and Noelle are outstanding players, but more importantly, they are high-character young women that excel in the classroom. All three have a chance to make an immediate impact both on the court and in our community.

“Jillian and Noelle were teammates on a summer travel team and will provide excellent guard play in our pick and roll system. Jill is an important post recruit as we prepare to graduate six post players over the next two seasons.”

Halfhill, a 5-6 point guard, is currently in her senior year at Canfield High School. The Ohio Girls Basketball Report (OGBR) has rated her as the second-best point guard in the state of Ohio, and one of the top-10 players in the state in the Class of 2010. Halfhill has helped the Cardinals of head coach Pat Pavlansky win conference titles in each of her first two years, with district titles in both her sophomore and junior campaigns.

Halfhill averaged 19.8 points and 4.9 assists per game last year, helping CHS to a 16-9 record and earning All-Ohio Division II Second-Team accolades. She averaged 12.5 points and over six assists per game her sophomore season, as the Cardinals went 21-3 and won a second-straight Metro Athletic Conference title. Canfield has a 55-16 record during Halfhill's first three years. She was named to the All-MAC First Team in each of those three seasons (Canfield is now in the All American Conference, beginning in the 2009-10 academic year). Halfhill has played AAU ball for Sports City University. Her sister, Bryanne, is beginning her sophomore season on the women's basketball team at the University of Chicago.

"Jillian is an outstanding point guard with excellent leadership qualities on the court,” said Miller. “She is a talented three-point shooter and will excel in our up-tempo system. Jillian is a winner and has been apart of outstanding high school and summer travel teams. Jillian was highly recruited and we are very fortunate to have her join our Falcon basketball family.”

Stein, a 6-2 forward, is a senior at Tiffin Columbian High School, and has played for coaches Chip Weingart and Larry Kisabeth. She helped the Tornadoes to a 20-0 regular-season record last year and a total of 23-straight wins before a loss in the regionals. Stein averaged 9.8 points and 7.8 rebounds last season, leading the team in both assists (3.3 apg) and steals (2.9 spg) and pacing the entire Northern Ohio League with 44 blocked shots. Stein has earned first team all-league accolades in each of the last two seasons, and was a second-team all-district selection in 2008-09.

Stein is also a volleyball standout at Columbian, and recently earned All-NOL First-Team honors in that sport. A four-year starter, she has helped the Tornadoes to three league titles in that sport. Stein also has competed in track and field, and is a captain on all three teams (volleyball, basketball and track) in her senior year. She has played AAU ball for several teams, including the Ohio Magic, Northwest Huskies and Toledo Thunder.

“Jill is a skilled and versatile post player,” said Miller. “Jill has the strength to play with her back to the basket but also has the outside range and ball handling to play at the power forward position. She shows fantastic leadership ability and truly understands the game. Jill was considered off the national recruiting scene but she is a huge addition and frankly a steal for our program.”

Yoder, a 5-6 guard, is a senior at Berlin Hiland High School. She has been listed as the second-best shooting/combo guard in the state of Ohio, and one of the state's top-10 players in the Class of 2010, by the OGBR. Last season, she helped the Hawks of coach Dave Schlabach to a 26-2 overall record, an Inter-Valley Conference title and a trip to the state championship game in Division IV. She had 22 points as the Hawks posted a 31-point win in the state semifinal game. Yoder was named to the all-district second team in 2008-09. She averaged 11.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and three assists per game a season ago.

Yoder earned All-Ohio honorable mention as a sophomore at West Holmes High School. She played her freshman and sophomore seasons at West Holmes before transferring to Hiland. In her final year there, Yoder averaged nearly 11 points per game, and was ranked as one of the top-12 sophomores in the state by the OGBR. That season, the Collegiate Girls Basketball Report listed Yoder as the 78^th-best sophomore in the entire country. Yoder's cousin, Melissa Mohr, was a four-year volleyball standout at BGSU.

“Noelle is a warrior and a champion,” said Miller. “She is a natural off guard, but could also play some point guard if called upon at BGSU. Noelle is a fantastic shooter but will also attack off the dribble. Noelle plays in one of the most decorated high school programs in the state and will be well prepared for the demands of collegiate basketball. Noelle is a great addition to our program."

Halfhill, Stein and Yoder will join Danielle Havel in their first playing seasons at BGSU in 2010-11. Havel, from DePaul University, is sitting out the 2009-10 campaign due to NCAA transfer rules.

“As always, my assistant coaches deserve a ton of credit for this outstanding recruiting class,” said Miller. “Jennifer Roos, Brandi Poole and Kevin Eckert are tireless workers, and they truly love getting to know each of the recruits personally. They are a big reason why our newcomers always fit in well in our 'championship lockerroom'.”

The Falcons, winners of five consecutive Mid-American Conference regular-season titles, open the 2009-10 campaign on Friday night (Nov. 13), hosting Chicago State University in a first-round game in the Preseason WNIT. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at venerable Anderson Arena.

BGSU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SIGNEES

Jillian Halfhill 5-6 Point Guard Canfield, Ohio (Canfield)

Jill Stein 6-2 Forward Clyde, Ohio (Tiffin Columbian)

Noelle Yoder 5-6 Guard Millersburg, Ohio (Berlin Hiland)

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