[Women's Basketball] Last set to join Mount Mercy women's basketball program

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Mount Mercy Head Women's Basketball Coach Aaron Jennings has announced the first member of the 2011-12 recruiting class. Paige Last, a 5'-7" wing player from Rock Falls High School, will join the Mustang program this fall.

Last was a two-time all-area and all-conference performer for the Lady Rockets. As a junior, she was a first-team all-North Central Illinois Conference and third-team all-area pick after averaging 10.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Last tallied 11.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, three assists and 2.1 steals per contest while earning first-team all-league and second-team all-area awards as a senior.

A three-year letterwinner in basketball, Last was the team's Most Valuable Player and a 3-point state qualifier as a junior and senior. She shot 42 percent from the floor, including 42 percent from 3-point range, as a junior. Last converted on 36 percent of her 3-point attempts as a senior while shooting 50 percent from the field overall and 80 percent from the free throw line.

"Paige is exactly the type of student-athlete we want at Mount Mercy," said Jennings. "She is a smart, quick, tough guard who has the ability to shoot the three and get to the basket."

Last has also been a three-year letterwinner in softball and cross country. In softball, she was a second-team all-NCIC selection as a sophomore and first-teamer as a junior. Last was a second-team all-conference performer in cross country as a freshman, sophomore and junior.

Last has excelled in the classroom as well, earning four academic all-conference awards in basketball and three each in softball and cross country. She has also been an Illinois State Scholar and a member of the honor roll all four years at Rock Falls.