"I'm very happy to have Ali back in Bismarck-Mandan playing for the Marauders," said Fridley. "Ali is a very talented player on both ends of the floor, where she can play the point and on the wing. She has the ability to score from all areas of the floor. We also expect Ali to be a top-flight defender."
A 5-foot-8 guard, Collins will transfer to U-Mary from Illinois Central College, which was ranked third nationally in the final NJCAA Division II poll of the season. As a freshman for the Cougars, she averaged 7.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists and a team-leading 2.4 steals per game. Collins shot 42 per cent from the field and 73 per cent at the free throw line while leading ICC to a record of 26-7 and a spot in the regional championship game.
Collins earned three state titles at Mandan High School (2006-08) and capped her senior season by earning Miss Basketball in 2009. A three time all-state performer, she earned second team honors as a sophomore and first team recognition as a junior and was the lone unanimous first-team Class A selection as a senior after averaging 19 points, 5.8 steals, 7.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists. She led the state in steals her final season and was second in scoring.
Mandan High School's most valuable player as a junior and senior and top defender in 2008, Collins was a three-time all-state tournament selection (2007-09), scored over 1,000 points in her high school career and became the first Braves player to record a triple double. Collins also was named to the Gillette Energy Classic All-Tournament 2008 and 2009, the 2007 Twin City Classic MVP, and was a part of the 2007 ESPN Top 25 Team at Mandan High School.
Ali is the daughter of Rebecca and Eddie Collins.
Joining Collins as newcomers to the Marauders this fall is Kaitlyn Haag, a post player from Hudson, WI, Janelle Rust, a guard/wing player from Elbing, KS, and Mia Gilreath of Omaha, NE, a transfer from Southwest Baptist University. Haag and Rust are incoming freshmen and Gilreath is a junior.
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