GOSHEN, Ind. – Goshen College head women's basketball coach Stephanie Miller joined the Maple Leaf program from Michigan.  Now she is bringing one of the state's elite players with her, recently announcing the signing of All State Selection Elizabeth Tecca.

Tecca led Parchment High School (Parchment, Mich.) to a 20-4 mark and district championship last season.  As a senior, she led the team in scoring at 14.6 points a game scoring ten or more points 17 times.

"Lizzie is a special student-athlete and we couldn't be more excited for her to represent Goshen College and the women's basketball program," Miller explained.  "Even though she is a decorated and gifted athlete that can score, pass, rebound, and defend, that isn't even the most impressive of the characteristics that I was going after.  What impressed me the most was her presence on the court, her leadership, and her heady and savvy play."

That savvy and all-around game was evident by her stats and honors.  In addition to her scoring total, Tecca set a new school single-season record with 40 3-pointers, was second on the team with 3.2 steals per game, second with 3.0 assists, and also averaged 4.5 rebounds.

For her efforts, the two-time all conference selection was named 2012 Michigan BCAM Class B First Team All State.  She was also picked to the all area team twice and earned a spot in the 2012 BCAM All-Star Game.

"She is also an outstanding student off the court and you can see it translate in her calm and cerebral approach to the game," Miller added.  "She is a winner and I had to have the intangible qualities that this kid brings to the court.  She will immediately help us take steps in the right direction."

As Miller mentioned, Tecca's off-court resume is equally as impressive.  She will graduate with high honors from Parchment and is a member of the National Honor Society.  The daughter of John and Lynn Tecca, Elizabeth plans on majoring in Collegiate Studies after starting at Goshen this fall.

"I am excited about the opportunity to make a difference and to be a part of a team that's going to turn the Goshen College women's basketball program around," Tecca said of her decision.  "Parchment was in a similar situation as Goshen in season's past and Coach Hinton showed me that nothing is impossible with hard work, which has prepared me more than anything else.  The biggest thing (in deciding on Goshen) was that I felt comfortable with Coach Miller and fit in with the girls on the team right away."

The Maple Leafs are slated to start their 2012-13 campaign at Holy Cross College (Notre Dame, Ind.) on November 2.  The complete schedule will be released later this summer on www.GoLeafs.net.