BRISTOL, Conn. – The Northern Arizona University women's basketball 2010 recruiting class was ranked No. 53 in the country in a poll produced by ESPN HoopGurlz.  The Lumberjacks are the only Big Sky Conference selection and the highest ranked university in the state with the University of Arizona positioned at No. 55 and Arizona State unlisted.

The Lumberjacks' recruiting class is amongst the best in the major conferences across the West, a group that includes the Pac-10, Big 12, and Mountain West conferences.  NAU ranks inside the top 15 with major programs such as Stanford, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, and Baylor.

"It feels great to see Northern Arizona on an ESPN publication," said head coach Laurie Kelly.  "We were one of three mid-majors in the top 60 so it is a great compliment to the student-athletes coming into our program.  It is good for the team and also the Big Sky Conference which can help get us some national recognition.  At the same time, it is just a ranking and we have a lot of hard work to do." 

NAU signed five student-athletes for the upcoming 2010-11 season, a class that will compliment a roster with eight returning letterwinners.  The group, consisting of Shayla Batson, Shakila Boler, Khyra Connerly, Shay May, and Trinidee Trice, have also been individually recognized as standout prep players by ESPN HoopGurlz. 

Boler (Burnsville, Minn.) is the No. 25-ranked point guard among high school seniors and the highest ranked player for the Lumberjacks this recruiting season.  Trice (Riverside, Calif.) is listed as the 35th best forward.  May (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Batson (Irvine, Calif.) are listed as the No. 69 and No. 78 wing players in the country, respectively.

Boler is the highest rated player among Big Sky Conference schools, and the Lumberjacks have twice as many ranked ESPN HoopGurlz players than any other conference member.

DID YOU KNOW…Based on AHRRC information NAU athletics has a significant impact on the Flagstaff economy. Lumberjack student athletes add $8.7 million to the Northern Arizona economy and visiting teams contributed $650,000 to the hotel and restaurant economy of Flagstaff.