This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Utah State has signed Australian point guard Eliza West, according to women's basketball coach Jerry Finkbeiner.

"We are very excited to add Eliza to our 2016 recruiting class," said Finkbeiner. "She will bring quickness and experience to our point guard position and is a proven winner and leader."

West could be a replacement for Funda Nakkasoglu, who was an All-Mountain West Conference first-team selection last season but announced after the season she was transferring.

West is in her final year at the Peninsula School in Australia. At the club level, she plays for the South Peninsula Sharks. Last season, the Sharks finished third in the Big V Women's State Champion League. West averaged 9.4 points, 3.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game.

Off the basketball court, West is also a prolific touch rugby player, helping her team to the 2016 National Touch League championship.

At Utah State, West completes a recruiting class that also includes Hailey Bassett (Layton), Shannon Dufficy (Preston, Australia), Jessie Geer (Gillette, Wyo.) and Dee Moore (Allen, Texas). Bassett, who averaged 19.5 points and 7.7 rebounds, was the Salt Lake Tribune's Player of the Year.

— Steve Luhm