MINOT, N.D. – Minot State University women's basketball head coach Sheila Green Gerding has signed five student-athletes to institutional letters of intent to play for the Beavers beginning in 2012-13.

“We are so excited about our upcoming class,” Green Gerding said. “We believe they will have an immediate impact on our team and be able to fill some much needed gaps. We feel this class of freshman will help us be competitive in the Northern Sun and are important to our future success.”

Joining the team is forward Brandy Messner from Pekin, N.D., guards Allison Mano from St. Johns, Fla., Amanda Sansaver from Wolf Point, Mont., and Alexandra Haley from Libertyville, Ill., and post Savana Kingsbury from Omaha, Neb.

“Brandy is a terrific addition as she is a taller wing with the ability to play inside and outside,” said Green Gerding. “Allie is very talented at point with the ability to score off the dribble or from the 3 and sees the court very well. Alex is a proven scorer with the ability to create her own shot and create for others. Savana is long and lanky and is solid around the basket. She is a very good defender. Amanda is a spunky point guard with great spring in her step, good quickness and excellent ball handling skills.”

Messner, who preps at Dakota Prairie High School, is a 6-foot forward. She averaged 16.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game as a junior, earning all conference honors, Jamestown Sun All Area team and Most Valuable Player at the Ramsey County Tournament. She surpassed the 1,000 point mark during her junior campaign.

Mano is a highly regarded point guard who plays for Bartram Trail High School. She averaged 15.4 points, 3.7 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game last season placing her on the Florida Class AAAA All-State Team helping Bartram to a 23-4 record and a district runner up finish. She was also a First-Team All-Conference, All-County and First Coast selection. A four-year starter, Mano helped Bartram to the Elite 8 in Florida 5A as a freshman.

Sansaver is a 5-6 point guard who is a multi-sport standout for Wolf Point High School. She earned All-State in basketball (three times), track & field (200, 400 and triple jump) and volleyball (in 2010). Sansaver averaged 13 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals per game last season as a junior.

Haley, 5-foot-8, plays shooting guard for Libertyville High School, where she averaged 16.1 points per game as a junior. As a sophomore, Haley poured in 10 points per game earning All-Conference, All-Area and All-County honors, helping Libertyville to a 27-0 record.

Kingsbury is a 6-foot-3 post who is a three-time letterwinner for Millard West High School. She is a rebounding machine who averaged 7.0 rebounds per contest to go along with a 5.2 points-per-game average. She was named Honorable Mention All-Metro Conference and Honorable Mention All-State in 2010-11. Kingsbury helped Millard to three state tournaments so far, earning fourth, second and third place respectively.

Minot State will begin competing in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference beginning in the 2012-13 academic season.