No new news was good news as far as the University of Wisconsin women's basketball team was concerned.

As expected, Emily Ashbaugh, a 6-foot-5 center from Woodinville, Wash., signed a national letter of intent Wednesday to play for the Badgers starting in 2000-2001. She verbally committed to the UW one week ago. Woodinville is about 30 miles northeast of Seattle.

"She's unlike any post (player) we have,'' UW coach Jane Albright said after practice Wednesday. "She's tall, but lanky. She runs the floor extremely well.

"She'll be a great defensive player first of all, a real defensive stopper, because she's quick and agile.''

Ashbaugh chose Wisconsin over NCAA power Stanford, UCLA, Oregon and Big Ten Conference foe Northwestern. She is rated as the 62nd best high school senior in the nation by the Blue Star Report and was the only prep from Washington to be invited to the prestigious Nike All-American camp last summer in Indianapolis.

She helped lead Redmond High School to the Washington 4A (large school) state tournament. She led her team in scoring (15 ppg), rebounding (9 rpg) and blocked shots (3 bpg) last season.

"She's a very adequate scorer, but certainly what we liked about her was her ability to run the floor,'' said Albright.

Ashbaugh is familiar with the Madison area because her grandparents, Dr. John and Patricia Healy, live in Middleton. Her mother also attended the UW.

Ashbaugh's father, Brian Ashbaugh, played college basketball at Northwestern. In addition, her sister, Lauren, is a junior at the University of California and is a two-year starter at power forward for the Cal women's basketball team.

Just three years ago, every player on the University of Wisconsin women's basketball team's roster was a native of the Badger state. Next year, at least half of the roster will be comprised of out-of-state players.

"Just as significant as anything, we were able to branch out with our recruiting,'' said Albright. "UCLA and Stanford, they wanted her very badly, so you know the caliber of player she is. She is a unique young lady and a great find for us.''

Ashbaugh will be the Badgers' only signing this fall, and unless the UW signs a point guard next spring, Ashbaugh will be the only freshman on the UW roster next season.

Wisconsin, which is loaded with talent in the freshman and sophomore classes this season, is focussing much of its recruiting attention nationally on a first-rate group of high school juniors, who would be eligible to sign a year from now. In addition, there are a number of first-rate prep sophomores playing high school ball in Wisconsin.

Sims honors cousin: LaTonya Sims was wearing a black strip on the left shoulder of her jersey during Tuesday's exhibition game at the Kohl Center. It is in memory of her cousin, Adrian Smith, who was shot and killed one year ago this month in Louisville, Ky.

"I just started wearing it towards the end of last season and I put it on at the beginning of the season this year,'' said Sims. "And I'm going to keep it on as long as I'm here.''

Smith gives lift to point: Freshman point guard Candas Smith, who suffered severe facial injuries in an auto accident in late August, decided Monday not to redshirt this season. The former Madison West standout saw limited action Tuesday night.

Albright says her decision to play this season will help Smith and the Badgers.

"Really what it says is, No. 1, she's really very courageous,'' Albright said of Smith's decision not to use a redshirt season. "Everybody said she would be back in December and she is already playing.

"And, No. 2, she is a very unselfish kid because she knows minute-wise Dee Dee Pate is our starting point guard.''

Smith is still trying to regain the form that helped her earn prep player of the year honors in Wisconsin last season. She is also trying to get into top physical condition and has struggled while playing with a plastic facemask.

"She can't see,'' Albright said of the facemask. "She has no peripheral vision. And that's a hard thing for a point guard.''

Albright said Smith shouldn't have to play with the facemask much longer, and the UW coach said she plans to work Smith into the playing rotation.