As Westmont Women’s Basketball gets ready to start the 2012-13 season with an exhibition at Pepperdine on Tuesday night, the Warriors released some good news about the 2013-14 season. Point guard Cora Chan of Woodland Hills and combo guard Natalie Florescu of Encino have signed with the Warriors and will begin their tenure as student-athletes at Westmont next fall.
Westmont head coach Kirsten Moore, who is entering her eighth season, commented on the 2013-14 recruiting class, “We are absolutely thrilled to have Cora and Natalie join our Warrior family. They have not only proven themselves to be outstanding basketball players, but they have excelled in the classroom and have exhibited exemplary character in all that they do.
“Signing both of these guards early is a great foundation for this very important recruiting class, and I am confident they have what it takes to represent Westmont well both on and off the court.
Florescu is a 5-8 guard from Harvard Westlake High School where she is a four-year varsity letter winner and three year starter. As a junior, she averaged 11 points, three assists, two steals, and three rebounds per game and was a member of the All-Mission League first team.
Florescu has shown she can do many of the intangibles and the gritty work on the court, but what separates her from the pack is her leadership on and off the court. She is a two-time team captain for Harvard-Westlake, in addition to being the ASB President. Florescu is also on honor roll for the last three years and is a member of the French National Honor Society.
“Natalie has a zest for life that is contagious and gives her a great presence on the basketball court”, said Coach Moore, “She is a natural leader, which when combined with her basketball skill, make her a valuable addition to our program.”
“I chose Westmont because I absolutely loved the sense of community I felt on campus”, Florescu said, “It wasn’t just with the basketball team, but every member of Westmont, from students to coaches to staff.”
Chan, from Woodland Hills, will bring a strong presence to the point guard position. Her ability to lead, command the floor, and score will bring a unique versatility to the Warrior backcourt. She is a three-year varsity starter and two-time team captain at El Camino Real High School, where she helped lead the Conquistadores to two West League Championships.
Last year as a junior, Chan led her team with 16.8 points, 2.7 assists and 2.5 steals per game. In addition to her long list of basketball accomplishments, Chan is a scholar-athlete who is a part of the National Society of High School Scholars. She has been involved in advanced orchestra for four years.
“The first time I saw Cora play, I knew that she would be an outstanding point guard for us at Westmont”, said Coach Moore, “Her passing skills and basketball IQ make those around her better and she can extend defenses with her perimeter shooting.”
“I am most excited about competing and experiencing a new level of basketball along with meeting and being with the people I will be best friends with”, said Chan, “I also want to help make a difference in the program and do things that have not been accomplished.”
Chan and Florescu were teammates for their club team West Coast Premier Valley Elite. This past summer the two guards were instrumental in helping the team win two tournament championships – the 2012 End of the Trail Platinum Division Championship (Oregon) and the 2012 Peach Tree Invitational Championship (Oregon).
Florescu commented, “We know each other’s tendencies and our chemistry on the court is great, so I’m excited to bring everything we have to the team next year and contribute in every way possible.”
