Roundup: Gonzaga women land three standouts

The Gonzaga Bulldogs used the prominence gained from reaching the Elite Eight last year to land a top-50 women’s basketball recruiting class, according to one source.

The Bulldogs picked up 6-foot-2 Elle Tinkle from Missoula, 6-2 Kiara Kudron from New Boston, Mich., and 6-1 Chelsea Waters from Lewiston.

Wednesday was the first day players could sign a national letter of intent in the early signing period, which lasts a week.

The four area Division I schools were expected to add 15 players.

Washington State added six, including five guards.

Eastern Washington had two, both front-court players.

Idaho picked up four, including local product Abigail Quinnett.

Tinkle’s father, Wayne, was a star at Ferris and the University of Montana, where he is now the head coach. Her sister Joslyn is a junior at Stanford, Gonzaga’s opponent on Sunday.

Kudron’s sister McKenzie plays at Hofstra, which plays at Gonzaga on Friday night to open the season.

Waters helped Lewiston win the Idaho State 5A championship last season. Her father, Frank, was a star player at Idaho.

Washington State’s haul included two guards from Hawaii, 5-7 Dawnyella Awa from Lailua-Kona and 5-6 Emalia Galderia from Kamuela, and two from California, 6-foot Mariah Cooks from Santa Maria and 5-9 Alex Williamson from Chino Hills.

The fifth is 5-11 Taylor Emondson from Carlsbad, N.M.

The lone forward is 6-1 Whitney Tinjum from Stacy, Minn.

Eastern Washington strengthened its front court with Hanna Mack, a 6-4 center from Eugene, Ore., and 6-foot forward CeCe Pearl from Peoria, Ariz.

Idaho’s name recruit is Quinnett, a 6-1 post from Moscow, Idaho, whose father Brian played at Cheney and for Washington State before a brief career in the NBA.

The Vandals also got a 6-2 post from Woodinville, Wash., in Ali Forde, whose brother Max plays football for the Vandals.

The other recruits are from California – 5-9 guard Concepcion “Connie” Ballestero from Orange, and Christina Salvatore, a 5-11 wing from Anaheim.