Women’s basketball adds foreign forward to 2014 class

From staff reports

Head Coach June Daugherty continues to build up the WSU women’s basketball program, and the next piece of the puzzle comes in the form of a 6-foot-2 forward from Australia.

Daugherty announced yesterday that Park Orchards, Victoria, Australia native Louise Brown has signed a National Letter of Intent to join the program at the start of the 2014-15 season.

“Louise is a very versatile athlete with a tremendous ability to rebound and run the floor. She has an extremely high basketball IQ and can score inside and out,” Daugherty said in a press release. “Louise’s experience as an Australian Institute of Sport scholarship holder, on her State teams in Victoria, as well as playing for the Australian National teams will be invaluable during her transition to the Pac-12.”

Brown spent the last four years playing on Australia’s Victoria Metro state team, and in that time her teams won gold in Under-16 and Under-18 Nationals in 2010 and 2011, respectively.

“Washington State University is like nothing we have over here in Australia,” Brown said in a press release. “The entire atmosphere that surrounds the school and the basketball program, combined with the welcoming and friendly environment, drew me right in. After visiting two other great schools, WSU was where I could see myself fitting in the best.”

Her state team also won gold in Under-20 Nationals last season.

Daugherty described Brown as not only a proven winner but a player with great character.

With the addition of Brown, Washington State is now looking forward to five new Cougars making a home on the Palouse this fall.

“With such an incredible coaching staff, I know that my future here will not only involve me growing as a player, but also as person,” Brown said. “The opportunity that WSU has given me still feels so surreal, and I’m an extremely lucky kid! I cannot wait to be a part of an up and coming team in the Pac-12 with many exciting years ahead of me!”