role as Muffet McGraw's Associate Head Coach. The younger Batteast, a
5-foot-7 guard, will have two years of eligibility after a solid junior college career which included earning her associate science degree in General Studies from Vincennes in May.

"Margaret obviously doesn't have her sister's height, but I really like her toughness and she's got all the intangibles," Owens said. "She's a great leader on the floor and has a real willingness to compete and battle. She'll hustle after every loose ball and isn't afraid to hit the floor. In addition to that kind of grit, she's pretty solid on the perimeter, but is more of a combination guard who has a mid-range jump shot and can still get to the basket. I believe she'll complement our other guards quite well."

Batteast will join an NIU roster that will be minus one expected returnee in reserve Emma Sehalic, who requested and was granted her release from the program. While the initial trio completed their eligibility with last year's 7-21 season, Sehalic's playing time was limited to just six minutes in two games due to injuries. She had one field goal and three rebounds - all from a (Feb. 2, 2005) game at Bowling Green State University. The 6-3 freshman center from Sarajevo, Bosnia, who played prep ball at Wilmette's Loyola Academy, expressed a desire to be closer to family in the Chicago area and plans to enroll at NAIA Saint Xavier University.

Batteast is one of three players for Vincennes coach Harry Meeks' 17-14 ball club to sign with a Division I team. Carla Gheorghe is headed to Butler University while Rachel Dixon was picked up by Morehead State University. The trio of double-figure scorers for VU all earned First-Team All-Region XII juco acclaim. As a sophomore, Batteast was the Lady Blazers' No. 2 scorer averaging 13.3 points-per-game and 4.7 assists. She compiled a .356 shooting touch (53-of-149) from behind the three-point line and was also the recipient of the Lady Blazers' Coaches Award.

During her frosh campaign, Batteast helped Vincennes produce a stellar 28-6 campaign with her juco career-high of 28 points coming in the NJCAA Championship Tournament against Gadsden State University. She was the No. 3 scorer for VU as a frosh averaging 12.9 ppg. while dishing off 4.1 assists.

"She did a good job for us and should be able to help NIU offensively from the wing," VU's Meeks said. "I don't think she got to show a lot of what she could do here last year simply because she played out of position all the time. She ended up playing the point a lot. I told her to run the team and not worry about scoring, and it hurt her statistically."

Batteast capped a four-year letter-winning career at South Bend's Washington High School being named to Hoosier Basketball Magazine's Top 40 Senior Girls list. A two-time team MVP and captain as a junior and senior, both seasons included First-Team All-Northern Indian Conference honors and South Bend Tribune All-Metro acclaim.

As a senior, Batteast averaged 14.2 ppg., 6.3 rebounds, and 4.0 assists playing for head coach Marilyn Coddens. She surpassed her sister for the school career assist record with 340. Her junior campaign included averages of 12.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. During her prep career, Batteast started 82 of her 87 career games.

-NIU-