Five Women Players Sign With UC Irvine

The UC Irvine women’s basketball team, coming off the Big West tournament championship and its first NCAA appearance, signed five players to letters of intent, Coach Colleen Matsuhara announced Monday.

Charpei Chen, Holly Fritz, Princess Hatcher, Yuriko Jung and Nikole Payton will join the Anteaters next season.

Chen is a 6-foot forward from Ponca City, Okla., who averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds. Fritz, a 6-3 center from South Pasadena, averaged nine points and nine rebounds. Hatcher, a 5-8 guard, was a three-time all-league selection from Diamond Bar.

Jung, a 5-7 guard from Venice, was a two-time all-L.A. City Section selection and Payton, a 5-7 guard from San Diego Montgomery, averaged 24 points and set the school’s single-game scoring record with 42 points this season.