WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SIGNS TWO TO LETTERS OF INTENT

BOULDER - The University of Colorado women's basketball team has signed two players in the National Letter of Intent late signing period, head coach Ceal Barry announced Thursday.  Yari Escalera, a point guard from Humacao, Puerto Rico, and Tami Garnett, a post player from Arlington, Texas, are the newest additions to the CU program.

Yari Escalera - 5-6 - G - Humacao, Puerto Rico (Colegio San Antonio Abad)

High School: Escalera played for the varsity team at Colegio San Antonio Abad for six seasons, starting her varsity tenure in the seventh grade.  During her four "traditional" years of high school, she led her team to a record of 72-5, winning championships all four years, with Escalera averaging over 24 points per game every year. As a senior, the CSAA team was 18-2, with Escalera averaging 26.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg and 7.5 apg en route to most valuable player honors for both her team and league, an honor she claimed from her freshman to senior seasons.  As a junior, CSAA was 18-1, with Escalera averaging 26.2 ppg and 6.4 rpg.  Escalera's sophomore team went undefeated at 18-0, with the point guard averaging 24.5 ppg and 7.2 rpg.  As a freshman she put up 24.2 ppg and 6.4 rpg en route to an 18-2 record.  She was a three time member of the YBOA All-Star Team. In club ball, she has played for a variety of teams based in Miami and Orlando.  She played for the Puerto Rican Under-21 National Team in 2003 that took fourth in Brazil and made her first appearance for a Puerto Rico national team at age 14 in Mexico, helping the young national team to a bronze medal. 

Personal: Yarillis "Yari" Escalera Estrada was born Feb. 18, 1986, the daughter of Orlando Escalera and Carmen Iris Estrada.  She prefers the nickname "Yari" and will go by the surname of Escalera at Colorado.  She is interested in studying physiology and biology at Colorado. She was a four time member of the Honor Society at CSAA and she earned honors in every class she took in high school.  Escalera is the youngest of three children, with a brother Orlando (22) and a sister Carla (20).  She also played volleyball, softball and soccer in high school.

Barry on Escalera: "Yari is a true point guard.  When I asked her what her favorite part of the game was, she responded that aside from winning, she loves the assist. My guess is that her teammates will enjoy playing with her."

Tami Garnett - 6-3 - F/C - Arlington, Texas (Central Arizona College/Sam Houston)

Central Arizona College: Helped CAC to a third place finish in the NJCAA Championship tournament this year, averaging 3.0 ppg and 2.0 rpg.

San Diego State: Played in just two games at San Diego State due to suffering from severe exercise-induced migranes that have since subsided.

High School: Played four years at Sam Houston High School in Arlington, Texas, under coach Angela Banks earning recognition as a McDonald's All-American nominee and a second team All-District selection averaging 9.0 ppg and 7.0 rpg.  She earned her team's outstanding character award in 2000 and was also voted the Texan's most improved player.  She also participated in track & field and cross country, lettering four times in each under coach Stacie Putnam.

Personal: Tami Elizabeth Garnett was born October 4, 1983 in Arlington, Texas, and is the daughter of Clement and Audrey Garnett and has an older brother Travis (22). Garnett intends to major in business at Colorado and is interested in real estate. She enjoys playing violin and participating in her church youth group.  She tutored elementary school and junior high school students from 2000-02, and has extensive experience volunteering in the Arlington area.  She played violin in her high school orchestra and was the first chair violinist for the SHHS Symphonic Orchestra, and a three-time winner of the outstanding orchestra member award.  She received a superior rating for a solo at the Region 5 UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest in 2001.  She was a finalist for homecoming queen in 2001, member of the National Honor Society and graduated magna cum laude. Her parents are natives of Guyana in South America.

Barry on Garnett:  "Tami is a strong player in the post.  If she commits to a disciplined summer, our team will be that much stronger this coming season."