The University of Minnesota Duluth and women's basketball head coach Mandy Pearson announce the signing of a trio of high school stars to national letters of intent. Brooke Olson (Rice Lake, Wis.), Lauren Miller (Zumbrota, Minn.) and Maesyn Thiesen (Sauk Centre, Minn.) will be joining the Bulldogs on the court next fall.
 

Olson, a two-sport athlete for Rice Lake High School, led the conference in scoring at 17.0 points per game and in rebounding at 12.7 boards per game as a junior. A soon-to-be three-year captain for head coach and mother Darla Olson, Olson received the team's determination award and the passion award (twice) for the Warriors. The 6-foot-2 forward is a two-time All-Big Rivers Conference selection and a All-State WBCA honoree. The three-year starter also was named to All-Northwest second team as a junior. Olson competed as a middle blocker for the Warriors, earning 2017 All-Big Rivers Conference honorable mention, and played one year of goalie on the soccer team. Olson has a rich family tradition in basketball as her mother played collegiately at Michigan Tech and her father, Forrest, also played collegiately at UW-Oshkosh. Her grandfather went to medical school and graduated from UMD. Academically, Olson is a co-president of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and a member of National Honor Society. She plans to major in exercise science at UMD.



 

A four-year starter for Zumbrota-Mazeppa High School, Miller will add much needed depth to the interior of the Bulldogs. The 6-foot-2 forward has starred for the Cougars and prep head coach Andy Bromelling since her freshman campaign. A injury last year spoiled much of her junior year but she is back to captain her squad and cause havoc in the Hiawatha Valley League. Miller, a three-year captain, set the single-season and career shot blocking marks at ZMHS as a sophomore, claiming team MVP honors. Miller is hoping to post her third Hiawatha Valley League All-Conference bid and third Red Wing Republican Eagle All-Area selection this winter. Miller also suited up for the Cougars in volleyball (MB/RS) and track (400m/thrower). Aside from athletics, Miller is an 'A' honor roll student at ZMHS while being involved in National Honor Society, the student council, SADD, FLCCA, the yearbook staff, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and symphonic band. Miller plans to major in exercise science.



 

Heading into her fifth season as point guard for the Mainstreeters, Thiesen has led Sauk Centre Secondary to the state tournament each of the last three years and was named to the All-Tournament team all three seasons. Thiesen, who is twice a member os the Class-2A All-State clubs, and the Mainstreeters have finishing as runner-ups in her freshman and junior seasons. As a sophomore, Sauk Centre claimed fourth at the state tournament. She is a four-time All-West Central Conference member and was the MVP of the conference in 2016-17. Thiesen has led the Mainstreeters in numerous categories since her arrival to the team in eighth grade. She has paced the squad in scoring (three years), steals (four) and assists (four). She holds the Sauk Centre record for most assists, which she broke as a junior. The senior guard has also competed in cross country and track and field, each gathering all-conference nods twice. She is involved in FFA and Captain and Leaders at Sauk Centre outside of athletics. Thiesen is undecided on a major at UMD.




"Our coaching staff is is very excited about our 2018-19 commitments," said Pearson. "Not only are they all very good basketball players but they are great people, students and leaders. They encompass the 3 C's that our athletic department values and I cannot wait to coach them."

All signings are contingent upon admission to UMD and compliance with NCAA rules, including certification by the NCAA Clearinghouse.