CEDAR CITY, Utah, April 11 – The Southern Utah women's basketball team added three more players for its upcoming inaugural season in the Big Sky Conference on Wednesday. Joining the Thunderbirds will be Utah high school standout Lori Parkinson of West Valley, Marissa Robbins of Lake Point, Utah and Sofia Hepworth of St. Anthony, Idaho.

Parkinson was selected as a member of the 2012 Salt Lake Tribune 4A First Team following an outstanding senior year at Cyprus High School this past season. The 6-1 forward was also named the 4A Defensive Player of the Year by the Deseret News after averaging six blocks, five steals and 14.6 rebounds per game during her final campaign with the Pirates. Parkinson was also a candidate for the Gatorade State Girls Basketball Player of the Year Award.

“We are really excited about Lori's potential as a basketball player,” says SUU head coach JR Payne. “She has an incredible upside as she is extremely athletic and has only played basketball since her sophomore year. She is a phenomenal rebounder and runs the floor very well.”

Robbins comes to Southern Utah after playing the past two seasons at Salt Lake Community College where she was one of the Bruin's top rebounders and scorers. The 5-11 forward ranked second on the team with 10.7 points per game and 6.0 rebounds. Robbins also earned Honorable Mention All-State honors while prepping at Stansbury High School in Stansbury Park, Utah.

“Marissa is a remarkable athlete who will fit our up-tempo style of play very well,” explained Payne. “She is a long and versatile player who will have an immediate presence on the boards and defensive end of the floor.”

Hepworth played alongside Robbins at SLCC, and this past season was the Bruins top-scorer with nearly 15 points a game. The 5-6 guard was named First Team All-Region and received NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American honors. Hepworth was named the Idaho Athlete of the Year while prepping at Sugar-Salem in St. Anthony, Idaho where she recorded over 1,000 points in her high school career.

“Sofia had a great career at SLCC and is a proven scorer,” said Payne. “She is great in the open court and has one of the prettiest pull up jumpers I've seen. She is an outstanding athlete and will be able to play all three guard positions.”

“I couldn't be happier for Sof and Marissa in choosing Southern Utah to continue their education and playing careers", commented Salt Lake Community College coach Betsy Specketer. "SUU is the perfect fit for both of them.”

The three newest T-Birds will join an SUU team that returns a talented roster that remains intact as there were no seniors on last year's squad. Parkinson, Robbins and Hepworth join forward Basia Klein who committed to Southern Utah last fall to form a stellar group of incoming athletes that will help the team reach new heights in the Big Sky.

“We couldn't be more excited about adding Lori, Marissa and Sofia to our basketball family,” commented Payne. “They are everything that's great about college athletics…they're competitive, hard-working and all three of them are tremendous teammates! I expect all three of them to have an immediate and positive impact on our program!”