Cape Girardeau, Mo. (April 18, 2003) - Southeast women's basketball coach B.J. Smith has announced the first signing of the Spring signing period as he has re-signed Brandi Russia out of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Junior College, his former school.

Smith had originally signed Russia last year after he was hired, but she did not enroll at Southeast as she had difficulties gaining eligibility.

Russia is a 5'7 guard from Cincinnati, Ohio. She played for Coach Smith at NEO where she averaged 10.1 points, 3.2 assists, and 3.9 rebounds during her final year at the school. She shot 47.2 percent from the field and 38 percent from three-point range. She was an NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American selection that season.

Russia was selected as the NJCAA Region II Player of the Year and was named an All-American after averaging 12.9 points, 3.2 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.6 steals per game in her freshman season at NEO. She led the team in scoring that season.

The guard averaged nearly a triple double as a senior at Robert A. Taft High school in Cincinnati with 24 points 10 rebounds and 7 assist per game averages.

Russia will add to an already deep and talented backcourt for the Otahks and Coach Smith is ecstatic to see Russia in a Southeast uniform.

"Brandi is the type of player who does whatever you want," Smith said. "She can defend, score, pass the ball and rebound. She brings great competitiveness and always comes to play her best in big games."