MINOT, N.D. – Minot State University head women's basketball coach Mark Graupe announced Tuesday that former North Dakota State and University of North Dakota standout Holly Johnson has transferred to MSU to finish her career with the Beavers.

Johnson, a former Miss Basketball winner who prepped at Minot High School, played three seasons for the Bison and appeared in six games at UND last year before suffering an injury. She will have one year of eligibility remaining and is enrolled in MSU graduate school.

"I'm excited to be back home," Johnson said. "The last couple of years have not been ideal, trying to finish my final year two times and they have not worked out. But it's great to be here at Minot State, my dad and my sister played here and there is a tradition in my family. It will great to get to play in finish my career with my family."

While at North Dakota State, Johnson averaged 12.2 points and 7.0 rebounds per game as a junior in 2014-15, earning honorable mention All-Summit League honors. She averaged 13 points and 5.9 rebounds in 30 games as a sophomore. In all, she finished with 845 career points with the Bison.

She didn't play in 2015-16 as she transferred to UND. In 2016-17, Johnson played in just six games as she was limited with an injury, averaging 2.3 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.

"Holly played against good DI competition," said Graupe. "She brings us a legitimate low-post presence. Holly will give us some toughness that will be a welcome addition. We hope that she will give us some leadership as well. Seniors are the ones that provide that and with the experience she has playing against good competition, I expect that she will lead by example."

This marks the first official signing for Graupe since being named head coach in March. While it isn't the typical route for a recruit, he was happy with how it came together in the first couple months of his MSU career.

"I've known her dad forever," Graupe said. "She came in and met with me to get a comfort level. We wanted to get to know her and she wanted to get to know us and get a feel of what we were about. Our biggest concern was if she would get a full year (of eligibility) or not. That was a big sigh of relief when we found out she could play the full season."

Johnson is excited to get back on the court following her injuries and see where she fits into the MSU system and with the current group of players.

"I feel really healthy," she said. "I had surgery in January and have fully recovered from that. I'm good body wise, but it takes a little more time to recover. I had great medical staffs at both NDSU and UND and now here. I hope I can stay healthy and fit in with this team.

"I feel like I can be the missing piece here in the four spot. If we can figure out some team chemistry, we could be a good group."

Johnson graduate from Minot High in 2012 where she averaged more than 17 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game on her way to being named Miss Basketball and the Gatorade Player of the Year in North Dakota.

About Minot State
Minot State University is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) and NCAA Division II offering 14 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletics programs. The NSIC is a premier NCAA DII, 16-member conference featuring teams in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa. The Beavers are the only public NCAA Division II institution in the state of North Dakota.