Women's basketball inks pair of junior college transfers
June 5, 2013
Chris Brooks
907-474-6805
Head coach Cody Burgess-Bench announced the Alaska women's basketball team has added two junior college transfers as it signed Candace Prestwich (Murray, Utah) and Ashlyn White (Sanger, Calif.) to National Letters of Intent and both will enter the program as juniors with two years remaining of athletic eligibility.
“Both of these ladies bring solid collegiate experience to our team,” Burgess-Bench said. “They will be able to adjust quickly to our competition schedule and provide key leadership for our incoming freshmen.”
She continued, “I look forward to the blending of our returners who finished strong this season and the talented freshmen along with these experienced transfers.”
Prestwich, a 5-foot-6 guard, spent the previous two seasons at College of Southern Idaho. She helped the Eagles to a 21-12 record and a Region 18 championship as a sophomore after contributing just over 4.0 points per game, splitting time as a starter and a reserve.
“Candace has played with a nationally competitive junior college where she contributed with solid outside shooting and outstanding defense,” Burgess-Bench said.
In high school, she was a tri-sport athlete at Murray High School in Utah, competing at the Class 5A level in girls' basketball, golf and volleyball. Prestwich was an Honorable Mention Class 5A selection while also being recognized by The Deseret News as an All-State member. Her senior year, she received a Certificate of Achievement in the social and humanitarian career field and the Outstanding Achievements in Excellence Scholarship Award and Female Athlete Award.
White, a 5-foot-8 guard, spent the past two seasons playing at Reedley College in California. As a sophomore, she came off the bench to average 6.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. She was third-leading three-point shooter in the Central Valley Conference, as she converted 33.3 percent of her long-range attempts.
White was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Tom Martinez Basketball Invitational after she averaged 13.0 points and 7.3 rebounds to lead the Tigers to a 3-0 record at the event in San Mateo, Calif.
“Ashlyn contributed all-around play with her junior college and will step in confidently in a similar roll here at Alaska,” Burgess-Bench said.
Prior to junior college, she was a three-year letter winner at Fresno Christian School in Fresno, Calif. A tri-sport athlete, she also played four years of volleyball and two seasons of softball. She was named the Most Valuable Player during her senior season of basketball and was also MVP as a junior and senior on the volleyball team.
Prestwich and White join women's basketball's incoming class consisting of Josie Broderick (North Pole, Alaska/North Pole) Autumn Childers (Dewey, Ariz./Prescott), Kaillee Skjold (Kasilof, Alaska/Soldotna) and Jordan Wilson (Henderson, Colo./Prairie View).
For more information, contact Chris Brooks , Media Relations Assistant, at cpbrooks@alaska.edu.