Tulane women's basketball head coach Lisa Stockton announced an addition to her 2009-10 Green Wave squad Thursday, as Janique Kautsky will join the program as a freshman. The 5-10 guard/forward comes to Tulane from Perth, Australia.

"Janique is a very versatile player and can fill a role similar to what Megan Valicevic provided last year," Stockton said. "She can play the three and the four. She can step out and shoot with a good long-range shot. But she also plays very strong and can rebound for us. With her international experience, Janique is also older and more mature than your average freshman."

Kautsky helped the Western Australia state team to the bronze in the Under-20 National Championship last season, leading the team in points and rebounds in her second year with the squad.

In 2008, her Under-20 district club team, the Lady Hawks, won the championship of the State Basketball League. Kautsky was a three-time MVP for the Hawks' Under-18 team from 2005-2007, and served as team captain in 2006 and 2007.

Kautsky was named the Western Australia Basketball League Female Player of the Year in 2007, as she guided the Lady Hawks to the WABL Grand Finals, taking home tournament MVP honors. She also earned MVP honors of the WABL Grand Finals in 2006 at the Under-19 level.

She will be one of five newcomers for the Green Wave in 2009-10, joining incoming freshmen guards Olivia Greyson and Tyria Snow, freshman forward Brittany Chantel McDonald and junior guard Danielle Nunn. Tulane will return seven letter-winners from last year's squad, including four of the Green Wave's top five scorers.

By Tammy Nunez, Times-Picayune
Friday August 14, 2009, 4:02 PM