Aug. 16, 2001
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern women's head basketball coach June Olkowski announced the signing of 6-0 guard Kristin Ambrose (Minnetonka, Minn./The Blake School) and 6-3 forward/center Maria McCarthy (Wyoming, Ohio/Wyoming) to National Letters of Intent to play basketball beginning in the fall of 2001. Ambrose is a transfer who spent last year at the University of Virginia.
"Maria is a great addition to our inside game," said Olkowski. "We were thin there, and she will add skill. Her best years are ahead of her. Kristin is a big help, she brings NCAA postseason experience which is where we're trying to get. She was highly recruited out of high school and will be a factor on the perimeter with her size and quickness."
Maria McCarthy / 6-3 Forward
Wyoming, Ohio/Wyoming
High School: Selected District 16 Player of the Year ... Received second-team All-State recognition senior year and honorable mention junior year ... Two-time first-team all-conference selection ... Voted first-team All-City both junior and senior seasons ... Named to the District 16 first-team the last two years ... Southwest District first-team selection in 2000 and 2001 ... Led team in scoring, FG att., FG made, FG percentage, FT att., FT made and blocks ... Ended Wyoming High career 11th on the career free throw list (130/215 61%), 11th on the career rebounding list (597), 11th on the single season scoring list (391), fifth in career scoring (943) and second on the career blocks list (171) ... Competed in District 16 and Ohio North/South All-Star Games ... Ended senior season 22-4 scoring in double figures 22 times.
Personal: Daughter of David and Anna McCarthy ... Born 4/22/83.
Kristin Ambrose / 6-0 Guard
Minnetonka, Minn./The Blake School
(University of Virginia)
at Virginia: Appeared in six games in 2000-01 and averaged 3.0 minutes ... Registered two rebounds against Mount St. Mary's ... Also played at Loyola and against Saint Francis, Maryland, Liberty and Richmond.
High School: Received honorable-mention All-America honors from Street and Smith Magazine junior and senior years ... Three-time USA Today All-USA girls team honorable mention ... Three-time All Tri-Metro Conference selection ... Three-time All-State St. Paul Pioneer Press and All-State Minneapolis Star Tribune selection ... Named to Minnesota Basketball News All-State team three years ... A three-time selection to the State Tournament All-Tournament team ... Three-time Minnesota Coaches Association class AA All-State team ... One of 80 Americans selected to participate in the Nike All-American camp and one of only 100 Americans chosen to compete at the WBCA Premiere Elite Camp ... 1999 Women's Basketball Journal "Top Pick" ... Selected as a 2000 Minnesota Ms. Basketball finalist ... Led her team in scoring and blocked shots sophomore, junior and senior seasons ... Voted team captain senior year ... Holds high school career three-point record, draining 165 treys in her varsity career ... Scored 1,140 points in high school, averaging 12.4 per game and 14.0 as a three year starter ... Team was four-time Tri-Metro conference champions and four-time 4AA sectional champions ... Team also won two Class AA state titles (sophomore and junior years).
Personal: Daughter of Richard and Connie Ambrose ... Born 3/2/82.