DENVER – The University of Denver women’s basketball team has added Patricia Gortarez (Phoenix, Ariz.), Emiko Smith (Culver City, Calif.) and Morgan Shell (Marble Falls, Texas) to the Pioneer roster for the 2009-10 season, head coach Erik Johnson announced.

Gortarez, Smith and Shell will join Sarah Feeney (Bismarck, N.D.) and Laura Palmere (Denver, Colo.), who were signed in the early NLI signing period, as part of the 2009-10 incoming class.

“All three of these players had highly successful careers, are already accustomed to winning, and will continue to expect nothing less than excellence from themselves and their teammates,” Johnson said.  “We are equally as thrilled with the character of this class of recruits as we are with their talent.”

Gortarez, who is currently a senior at St. Mary’s High School, has been a dominant force on the Knights’ basketball team throughout her high school career.  She was a member of the 2006 State Champion squad, and later led her team as a senior to a runner-up finish at the 2009 State Championships.  She was named first-team all-region as a senior, and also played club basketball for the Arizona Hype.

“Patricia is a rare combination of a long athletic defender who is also a legitimate deep three-point shooter,” Johnson said. “Her speed will fit our style well.”

Smith, who is a graduating senior at the Windward School, is a McDonald’s All-American nominee who was named First-Team All-League all four years of her high school career.  She was a member of the 2006 CIF Championship team, and led the Wildcats to three CIF league titles in her tenure at Windward.  She was twice named to the CIF First-Team, and also was a decorated softball and volleyball player throughout high school.  She averaged 5.8 points, 6.1 assists and 3.3 steals per game during her senior season as a co-captain of the Wildcats. Her team was the No. 1 seed in the southern section of California.

“Emi is a true point guard with brilliant passing skills,” Johnson said. “She is a true floor general who can push our transition game and make all her teammates better.”

Shell, transferring in from SMU, played 25 games during the 2008-09 season averaging nine minutes per game. She scored 52 points adding seven steals and seven blocks. In a win against top-ranked TCU, she scored nine points in seven minutes of playing time. In a game against Virginia Tech, she guarded the main shooter, shutting her down to only four points.

In high school, Shell played for Marble Falls (Texas), finishing her career as the all-time scoring leader with 2,240 points. She was a key player throughout her career starting in every single game. She served as team captain for two years, leading the team to 120 wins and 17 losses. She has one of the best career winning percentages in Texas High School girls basketball history. She was named First-Team All-CenTex and first-team All-San Antonio Area. She was also named District 27-4A Offensive Most Valuable Player as a junior, and overall MVP as a sophomore and senior. Three years in a row she was named First Team All-State. The Texas Girls Coaches Association (TCGA) and Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC) named her All-State and All-Region. She was rated as the No. 15 senior in the state by Premier Basketball Report.

“Morgan is a tall, versatile wing player who is both a great scorer and a great defender,” Johnson said. “She will make an immediate impact with her work ethic even while sitting out this year.”

- PIONEERS -