ANTIGONISH, NS – StFX women's basketball head coach Augy Jones is pleased to announce the commitment of local Antigonish, NS native Brianna Gottschall to the X-Women basketball program for the 2017-18 season.

"I have had the pleasure of watching Brianna grow as a player right before my eyes," comments Coach Jones.  "She was often in the gym with her sister Melissa working out in the Oland Center during the off-season. I really saw Brianna's potential to play at the next level in her grade eleven year, she is very fundamentally sound and has the inside/outside skill set that we are looking for within our systems. I am always excited to have a local star player commit to our program."

The 5'11" power forward competes with Dr. J. H. Gillis High School in Antigonish where she is the co-captain and 2016 most valuable player. A member of Basketball Nova Scotia's U14, U15, and U16 programs, Gottschall also played for the X-Women's summer club team the Scotia Sting SeleX. Aside from her basketball talents, Gottschall is also involved with the Antigonish Rowing Club, wheelchair basketball, peer mentoring and volunteers with the Antigonish Highland Games.

Her older sister Melissa played two seasons with the X-Women program and Brianna was a high school teammate of current X-Women sophomore guard Holly Scott. The recipient of the 2014 University of Waterloo Math Award, Brianna is enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts and Science in Health program at StFX.

She is eager to join the program, commenting "I grew up watching and cheering for the X-Women ever since I was little. I am very grateful to get this opportunity to represent my hometown and play with such an exciting team."

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