Sandringham, Victoria, July 2010 – Christine Wylie has a good reason to be excited. The 6’6” Ballarat D-League centre has gone from working part-time at a chemist warehouse, to being recruited into a NCAA Division 1 University.

Wylie, who averaged 7.1 points and 8.8 rebounds for the Lady Nuggets last season, will play with the Kennesaw Owls, who compete in the Atlantic Sun conference.

The Owls finished last season with an 11-19 record under head coach Colby Tilley, and compete against schools such as Jacksonville, East Tennessee and North Florida.

Tilley will enter his 15th season as head coach of the women’s basketball program, and has posted a 256-151 (62.8%) record over that time.

The Owls head coach spoke exclusively to seabl.com.au about the recruitment of the young Ballarat star.

“A former player of mine from Australia, Samantha Tomlinson, contacted me about Christine. After viewing film of her, I felt Christine had the ability to help our program reach goals we have set for ourselves. Samantha, whose judgement I trust, spoke honestly of Christine's potential and that was good enough for me.”

Christine has a lot to look forward when she comes under the tutelage of Tilley, who has a reputation for nurturing unique talent. In his four seasons coaching in the Atlantic Sun conference, Tilley has had at least one player earn all-conference recognition.

After having spent the last three years playing for the Lady Nuggets, Wylie was obviously elated at being recruited.

“I’m very, very excited. It’s a huge opportunity. I’m also starting to get a bit nervous as the day to leave gets closer.”

With the Lady Nuggets to miss this year’s playoffs, Christine will head off on August the 8th. Wylie will undertake a Bachelor of Science at Kennesaw on a one-year scholarship.

But Christine is hopeful that her time with the Owls might be the launching pad into something more substantial.

“My goals are to try and finish the degree there, and then maybe return home to play in the WNBL.”

And did she find her time in the D-League to be beneficial?

“My time at the Lady Nuggets has been fantastic. The D-League is a great competition with a very high standard.”

For more information about the Kennesaw Owls, visit www.ksuowls.com