CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball program announced the signing of Mary Burke (F, 5-11, Virginia, Minn./Mountain Iron-Buhl H.S.) to a National Letter of Intent. Burke is the first signee for the 2018-19 class for the Golden Eagles.

"Mary is one of the most versatile players I have ever recruited to the University of Minnesota Crookston," said Head Coach Mike Roysland. "She has the ability to play the 3, 4 and 5 positions in our system. Mary is great at attacking the rim and she can also stretch the floor with her outside shot. She comes to us from a great program at Mountain Iron-Buhl and we are excited to get on campus."

The Golden Eagles are slated to lose only two players from this season's roster, but two crucial cogs in the program with Micaela Noga (Sr., G, Parkers Prairie, Minn.) and Emily Gruber (Sr., F, Monticello, Minn.). Minnesota Crookston is slated to return 10 players to the fray for the 2018-19 season.

Burke joins a squad that has been to three-consecutive NSIC/Sanford Health quarterfinals. The Golden Eagles have accumulated a program high of 40 wins in the last three years, including a school-record 18 wins during the 2015-16 season. Head Coach Mike Roysland is in his 12^th season leading the squad. Roysland was the NSIC Coach of the Year following the 2014-15 season. 

The Golden Eagles stay within the Northern region of the state of Minnesota with the signing of Burke from Mountain Iron-Buhl High School. She is originally from Virginia, Minn., on the Iron Range of Northeast Minnesota. 

Burke will give the Golden Eagles versatility on the wing and at the two positions in the post. She also gives the team length with a 5-11 frame.

Mary Burke (F, 5-11, Virginia, Minn./Mountain Iron-Buhl H.S.)
Burke was a Class A All-State First Team selection by the Minnesota Girl's Basketball Coaches Association. Burke averaged 17.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game for the Rangers. She helped lead Mountain Iron-Buhl to a 25-1 mark. The Rangers lost in the Class A final last season to Goodhue High School. Burke was picked to the All-Tournament Team at the MSHSL Class A Tournament in 2017. She shot 56.0 percent from the field as a junior and 42.5 percent from beyond the arc. Burke was an 80.4 percent free throw shooter. She has been an All-Arrowhead Conference First Team pick in the last three seasons. She is a member of the 1,000 point club at Mountain Iron-Buhl High School.

Burke plans to major in health sciences at Minnesota Crookston. She was born Jan. 14, 2000. Burke is the daughter of Dan and Penny Burke. 

All signees are contingent upon admission to UMC and compliance with NCAA rules, including certification by the NCAA Eligibility Center. Everyone released today has signed their National Letter of Intent prior to release of information.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

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The University of Minnesota Crookston is a NCAA Division II university located in the Red River Valley of Northwest Minnesota. UMC sponsors 11 intercollegiate athletic teams with membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate conference (NSIC) and the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). The NSIC is a 16-team conference with schools situated in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska.