GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The University of North Dakota women's basketball program announced the fourth signee to its Class of 2021 on Wednesday, Jan. 20, adding mid-year enrollee Erika Lane to the Fighting Hawks squad for the final 10 games of 2020-21. Erika, the sister of sophomore forward Olivia Lane, began practicing with the team on Monday and will be eligible to play this weekend at South Dakota State.
 
"In a highly unusual year, we are taking advantage of the opportunity to add Erika to our roster a semester earlier than previously anticipated, and it's great that Erika was excited to join us early too," said Interim Head Coach Mallory Bernhard. "Some of the roster challenges we've faced this year, it's great to add another player and allow her the chance to acclimate to the collegiate game sooner. She has a great work ethic – a true Lane family trait – and it's something special to say they're going to do this together."
 
The 5-9 guard played was an All-Area selection by The Brainerd Dispatch as a junior in 2020, after averaging 10.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. She played alongside sister Olivia at Pequot Lakes High School on the Patriots' 7AA Sectional Semifinalist team the year before. Erika was a member of the Minnesota Suns AAU team based in the Twin Cities.
 
The Lane's are the first sisters since Alaina (2018-20) and Jaclyn Jarnot to play on the same Fighting Hawks team. Erika is the fourth player to sign with the University of North Dakota Class of 2021, joining guards Jodi Anderson and Allie McCarthy, and center Miranda VanderWal.
 
The Fighting Hawks will return to action on Friday, Jan. 22, when it heads to Brookings, S.D., to take on South Dakota State at Frost Arena. The Hawks and the Jackrabbits will tip at 5 p.m. Central on MidcoSN2, 100.3 FM The Cat on Grand Forks, and 740 AM The Fan in Fargo.

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