CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team rounded out their 2018-19 class by signing Veronica Schwartz (F, 5-10, Parkers Prairie, Minn./Parkers Prairie H.S.). Schwartz joins Emma Carpenter (G, 5-10, Eagan, Minn./Eastview H.S.), Alyssa Peterson (G, 5-7, Menahga, Minn./Menahga H.S.), and Mattea Vetsch (G, 5-8, Devils Lake, N.D./Devils Lake H.S.) as signees for the Golden Eagles.

"We are excited to add Veronica Schwartz to our recruiting class," said Head Coach Mike Roysland. "Schwartz is an all-around skilled athlete with a great upside as she continues to develop in our basketball program. She comes from a great program in Parkers Prairie High School and we are really excited to welcome Veronica into the Minnesota Crookston basketball family."

Schwartz comes from a pipeline at Parkers Prairie High School that produced former Golden Eagle Micaela Noga, who was an All-NSIC Second Team pick during the 2017-18 season. Schwartz has been coached for the Panthers by Noga's father and Micaela Noga's sister, Sari (Noga) Lind, a former University of Minnesota basketball player.

The Golden Eagles are slated to lose to three players following the conclusion of the 2018-19 season, including starters and team captains Isieoma Odor (R-Sr., F/C, Bloomington, Minn.) and Caitlin Michaelis (Sr., G, Marshfield, Wis.). Maria Delgado (Sr., G, London, England) will also conclude her career for the Golden Eagles.

Schwartz is another talented in-state player that along with the signings of Carpenter and Peterson shows Coach Roysland's emphasis to getting the best players in the state and the region. The Golden Eagles currently have eight players from Minnesota, five players from Wisconsin, one from North Dakota, and one from Missouri. Minnesota Crookston only has one player from outside of the Midwest region in Delgado from England.

The Golden Eagles are currently off to their best start since the 2007-08 season as they have opened the 2018-19 campaign with a 3-0 mark. Minnesota Crookston is looking to make it back to the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament quarterfinals at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D., for the fourth time in five years.

Schwartz will add athleticism and versatility to the forward. She is slated to join a squad that returns several players at forward and the post, including returning starter Abby Guidinger (So., G/F, Waukesha, Wis.). The Golden Eagles also return Bren Fox (Fr., F/C, Norwood Young America, Minn.), Julia Peplinski (Fr., F, Hustisford, Wis.), Mary Burke (Fr., F, Virginia, Minn.) and Amber Schoenicke (Jr., F/C, Marshall, Minn.).

Veronica Schwartz (F, 5-10, Parkers Prairie, Minn./Parkers Prairie H.S.)
Schwartz has been an All-Little Eight Conference selection at Parkers Prairie High School the last two seasons. She has earned the Most Improved Player Award twice and was her team's Most Valuable Player, as well. Schwartz has also earned the Best Defense award and Hardest Worker award. She also competes in track and field. Schwartz averaged 14.9 points and 11.0 rebounds per game for the Panthers. Schwartz tallied 2.4 assists and 3.6 steals per game for Parkers Prairie High School.

She is the daughter of Steven and Dianne Schwartz. Schwartz is undecided on her major at Minnesota Crookston. She was born Aug. 19, 2001. She has been a Minnesota Honor Society for two years. She is an academic letter winner and has been on the "A" honor roll since the seventh grade. Schwartz is also a Knowledge Bowl letter winner.