November 12, 2003

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Virginia Tech Women's Basketball Coach Bonnie Henrickson has announced the signing of two student-athletes to a national letter of intent for the 2004-2005 academic year. Brittany Cook will join the Hokies next season as a freshmen while junior college transfer Roshana Jackson will be a junior.

Cook, a 6-0 guard from Narrows, Va., averaged 23.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and five blocks during her sophomore season in leading Mercer Christian Academy to the West Virginia State Championship for the second consecutive season. She was named to the Class A all-state team her freshman and sophomore seasons and has scored 1,060 points. Her junior season was cut short after just six games when the school was forced to suspend the program due to a lack of players. Cook, who plays AAU basketball for the Roanoke Stars, was named the Bluefield Telegraph Player of the Year. She was also recruited by West Virginia, Duquesne, Liberty, UNC Wilmington, Seton Hall and Marshall.

"Brittany is a skilled perimeter player who can shoot the three as well as get to the rim off the dribble," said Henrickson. "Brittany has grown up in front of our eyes. There isn't a better combination of a player and person in the country."

Jackson, a 6-0 forward from Norton, Va., will transfer to Virginia Tech from Hiwassee College in Madisonville, Tenn. She averaged 12.0 points, 10.5 rebounds and three blocks last year in leading Hiwassee to a 25-4 record and the quarterfinals of the national junior college tournament. Jackson was named the Group A Player of the Year by the Associated Press as a junior at Appalachia High School. Jackson selected the Hokies over Louisiana Tech, West Virginia, Arkansas, Alabama and several others.

"Roshana is a fantastic athlete who plays much bigger than her size indicates," said Henrickson. "She can score with her back to the basket or face up to penetrate. Her experience gained at the junior college level will be invaluable."

Virginia Tech finished the 2002-03 season with a 22-10 record and advanced to the NCAA Second Round, marking the sixth consecutive 20-win season and sixth-straight postseason appearance for the program. The Hokies are ranked 24^th in both the Athlon and Basketball News preseason polls. Tech opens the regular season Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. in Cassell Coliseum against Miami (Ohio).