BUTTE – Montana Tech head women’s basketball coach Carly Sanon announced the signings of three players on Friday. Ally Cleverly of Butte, Makenna Liles of Florence, and Soda Rice of Savage will join the team for the 2020-21 season. All three players are 2019 high school graduates and are transferring to the Orediggers.
“I am very excited about our 2020 recruiting class,” said Sanon. “The new recruits fit well academically and athletically to Montana Tech.”
Cleverly is a Butte High School graduate who spent her college freshman season at Carroll College. During her senior season in 2018-19 with the Bulldogs, she was the third-leading scorer in Class AA, averaging 14.6 points per game and shooting 43 percent from the floor. She was a four-time letter-winner for the Bulldogs and scored 890 career points.
“Ally is a great addition to our program,” said Sanon. “She is natural fit both academically and athletically. Ally is a great decision-maker, shooter, and has the ability to score at the rim.”
Liles, a 5-foot-10 forward from Florence, spent last season at Rocky Mountain College. She averaged 11 points and 10 rebounds per game over the course of her high school career for the Falcons, where she was a first-team all-state selection her senior season and helped Florence to a runner-up finish at the Class B state tournament.
“Makenna is a hard worker and brings size to the guard position. I am excited to have her part of our program," Sanon said.
Rice, a 5-11 forward from Savage, transfers to Montana Tech from NCAA Division II Minot (N.D.) State University. Rice was a multi-sport athlete for the Warriors, playing basketball and volleyball and running track. Rice was a three-time all-state selection and scored 1,139 career points at Savage High School.
“We are excited to welcome Soda to the Digger family," Sanon said. "Soda adds length and athleticism to our team. Soda had a great high school career at Savage and has spent the last year working on her strength.”
