May 28, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern women's head basketball coach June Olkowski announced the signing of 6-1 guard/small forward Andrea Glasauer (Freiburg, Germany), 5-10 guard Alex Mueller (Nordlingen, Germany) and 5-7 guard Breanne Smilie (Elk Grove, Ill./Fenwick) to National Letters of Intent to play basketball at NU beginning in the fall of 2003.
"For this recruiting class we, as a staff, searched near and far," said Olkowski. "Being at Northwestern gives us that ability because of our academic reputation."
Glasauer was voted Germany's 2001 Rookie of the Year, competing for Club Freiburg. As a junior, Glasauer and her teammates won five German championships. She also was a member of Germany's Under-16 and Under-20 National teams that participated at the European Championships.
Mueller, who is from Nordlingen, has been a member of Germany's Junior National team since 1997 and has played with the Senior Women's National team since 2001.
"The blend of international experience Alex (Mueller) and Andrea (Glasauer) bring from playing in the European Championships can only make us better," said Olkowski. "The skills of all three players fits perfectly into both our offensive and defensive schemes."
Smilie is NU's second Fenwick high school player to sign in the last three years, as sophomore standout Sarah Kwasinski also donned the Friar jersey. Smilie transferred to Fenwick after her freshman year, and totaled 794 points in three years. As a senior, the Illinois native garnered all-conference honors, and was a second-team all-tournament selection at the Illinois State Tournament. The Chicago Sun Times voted her second-team all-area, and the Pioneer Press named her "Tops of Their Teams" for 2003. The Illinois Basketball Coaches Association also selected her to their all-state team.
During Smilie's three years at Fenwick, the Friars won a state title (2001) and finished runner-up (2003). At the 2003 state tournament, Smilie set a record for three-pointers in a game, hitting all five of her attempts in the semifinal round.