GREENVILLE, N.C. -- East Carolina head women's basketball coach Sharon Baldwin announced today the signing of Cherie Mills to a National Letter of Intent for the 2003-04 season. Mills is the third signee for the women in the early signing period, which ends today.

Mills, a senior at Ayden-Grifton High School where she plays for Coach Johnny Davis, averaged 25.2 points per game last season. She also grabbed an average of 12.8 rebounds per game, and notched 7.3 blocks. A Street and Smith's All-American in 2001 and 2002, Mills is ranked as the 60th best high school center in the country by the All-Star Girls Report.

Brett McCormick, Scouting Director of the All-Star Girls Report says, "Cherie is a big body that can really score down low. She will definitely be a presence in the post for East Carolina."

She is also ranked as one of the top 15 seniors in North Carolina by Hoops and Dreams Scouting Service.

"Cherie tops off our early signing period giving us some much needed size in the post," said Baldwin. "She is a great scorer and also has the ability to change a game on the defensive end of the floor as evidenced by her averaging just under eight blocks per game last season. I'm also extremely excited about signing a local player with great potential. We look forward to her being a dominant player in Conference USA."

Mills, the daughter of William and Angela Mills, also considered Charlotte before deciding on East Carolina.