STEPHENVILLE - Tarleton women's basketball coach Ronnie Hearne has announced the signing of Heather Gothard to a national letter-of-intent. Gothard, a 5-4 guard from Burleson High School, will begin her collegiate career during the 2006-07 season.

“Heather is a true point guard who is both quick and strong,” Hearne said. “She has the ability to score, and if she had been a little taller, she would have truly been a Division I prospect.”

Gothard averaged 20.9 points per game while shooting .570 from the field and .79 from the free throw line last season. She was second in the area in scoring among 5A players.

Gothard was the Offensive Player of the Year for District 4-5A, and of Johnson County, last season as a junior. She was named to the all-tournament team at Birdville after scoring 92 points in the tournament. She was the Female Athlete of the Year at BHS and made the all-area and all-region teams while leading team to the playoffs for the first time in 10 years. Gothard was named the team's MVP and was named first team all-district. She also qualified for regionals in the sprint relay and the 200-meter dash as a junior.

The newest TexAnn was first team all-district and academic all-district as a sophomore. She was the Offensive Player of the Team and received all-tournament recognition at the Lady Kat Invitational. As a freshman, Gothard was honorable mention all-district and named Academic All-District.

“She was heavily recruited by other schools, but we were lucky enough to get her to come to Tarleton,” Hearne said. “She is not only a great basketball player, but is a good young lady and student as well.”

Gothard is a member of the National Honor Society and is the daughter of Tammie Neel and Kerry Gothard.