April 13, 2006

BLACKSBURG, Va. - The Virginia Tech Athletics Department has announced the signing of women's basketball players Eleanor Brentnall and Brittany Gordon to national letters of intent for the 2006-2007 academic year. Brentnall and Gordon are the sixth and seventh signees of the year.

Brentnall, a 6-4, left-handed center from Melbourne, Australia, averaged 19.0 points and 13.0 rebounds in the Big V Youth League. She was the league's leading scorer and rebounder and was both the season and championship game Most Valuable Player. As a junior, Brentnall averaged 16.0 points and 10.0 rebounds in the Victorian Basketball League. As a member of the Australian National Junior team, she was a 2003 gold medalist and bronze medalist in 2005. As a member of the 2005 team, Brentnall averaged 15.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 3.8 blocks per contest.

Gordon, a 6-4 center from Woodbine, Md., was a 2005 graduate of River Hill (Md.) High School and currently attends The Blair Academy (N.J.). At River Hill, Gordon was a 1,000-point scorer and became the school's career rebound leader. She was selected as the Fox 45 Player of the Year. At The Blair Academy, Gordon averaged a double-double (20.0 points, 10 rebounds) and was a member of the Mid-Atlantic Prep League Elite team.

Brentnall and Gordon join 5-11 point guard Lindsay Biggs from Midlothian, Va., 6-1 wing Utahya Drye from Durham, N.C., 5-8 guard Shani Grey from Windsor, Conn., 5-8 point guard Lakeish Logan from Scarboro, W.Va., and 6-1 power forward Vionca Murray from Rosedale, N.Y., who inked with the Hokies during the fall signing period.

"Brittany and Eleanor will bring size and a presence in the paint to our team," said Virginia Tech head coach Beth Dunkenberger. "They both score, rebound, and block shots extremely well and can make an immediate impact in the ACC."

Virginia Tech finished the 2005-06 season with a 21-10 record and advanced to the NCAA Second Round marking the fourth consecutive NCAA appearance and ninth-straight postseason appearance for the program.