DAVIS, Calif. -- A pair of Californians and an Oregon native make up a trio of talented frontcourt players who have signed National Letters of Intent to continue their academic and athletic careers with the UC Davis women's basketball program, Head Coach Jennifer Gross announced on Friday.

Forwards Sophia Song (Monterey Park, Calif. / Mark Keppel HS) and Nina Bessolo (Hayward, Calif. / Castro Valley HS) join post Emma Gibb (McMinnville, Ore. / Western Mennonite School) as early signees for the Aggies, who will begin their careers as true freshmen in 2016-17.

"We are so excited about the three student-athletes joining our UC Davis family," Gross said. "They are all proven winners who provide us with skill, size, and versatility, both inside and out. More importantly, we have signed three amazing people who completely buy into the team culture that we pride ourselves on at UC Davis."

Brief bios on each of the signees follow.

UC Davis women's basketball officially opens its 2015-16 campaign on Friday (Nov. 13), welcoming No. 14 Stanford to The Pavilion for a 7:30 p.m. season-opening tip-off. It is the second game of a doubleheader with the defending Big West Conference champion UC Davis men's team, which opens its season against North Dakota State at 5:30 p.m.

	SOPHIA SONG (5-11, F, Monterey Park, Calif. / Mark Keppel HS) Three-year letter winner for the Aztecs at Mark Keppel HS in Alhambra, California, after playing her freshman year at Bishop Montgomery HS in Torrance, California… Helped the Aztecs to a 26-8 overall record, a CIF Southern California regional title, and a trip to the CIF State Division II Championship game before falling to Archbishop Mitty HS… Averaged 24 points, 7.1 rebounds, and two steals per game as a junior, earning Almont League Co-MVP honors as well as player of the year laurels from the Pasadena Star News in 2014-15… Averaged 18 points per game as a sophomore en route to league MVP honors and All-Area first team laurels, helping the Aztecs to a 26-4 record and a league title… Averaged 13 points as a freshman, earning a spot on the All-Del Rey League first team and All-Area second team for Bishop Montgomery HS. Head Coach Jennifer Gross: "Sophia is a natural fit for our system. She can pass, score, handle the ball, and also stretch defenses with her 3-point shooting. Her versatility will provide depth at a few different positions for us. Sophia loves being in the gym and that commitment to skill development continues to pay off."
	NINA BESSOLO (5-11, F, Hayward, Calif. / Castro Valley HS) Transferred to Castro Valley HS prior to the start of her senior year after playing her first three prep seasons at Valley Christian HS in Dublin, California… Three-year letter winner averaged 16.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per game as a junior for the Vikings, helping her team to a 31-4 overall record, a CIF North Coast Section title, and a trip to the Northern California Regional semifinals… Three-time Bay Counties League East first team selection, including league MVP honors as a junior… CalHi Sports All-State Division 5 selection, San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro League Fourth Team, and Contra Costa Times All-East Bay Second Team choice, in 2014… Averaged 13.8 points and 10.3 rebounds as a sophomore… Also ran track as a freshman and sophomore… All three brothers (James, Micah, and Daniel) play basketball, the latter two also running track… Her father, James, played basketball and her mother, Nicole, ran track at Lewis & Clark College… Played AAU for the Cal Stars last season, helping her team to the Nike EYBL National Championship… Prior to that, competed for the AAU Palo Alto Midnight from 2012-14… Girl Scouts Silver Award winner. Head Coach Jennifer Gross: "Nina is a tremendous athlete who can get to the rim, but is also a very good 3-point shooter. This combination will make her a difficult matchup for opponents. She is an excellent rebounder and has the ability to be a top defender in our conference with her length and quickness."
	EMMA GIBB (6-2, F/C, McMinnville, Ore. / Western Mennonite School) Three-year letter winner for the Pioneers at Western Mennonite School in Salem, Ore., helping her team to a pair of Tri-River Conference titles… Three-time first-team Class 2A all-state selection and the 2A state player of the year as a junior while helping the Pioneers to their first state title… Averaged 15 points and 14.7 rebounds as a junior, earning a share of the state 2A player of the year honors as well as Tri-River Conference Player of the Year honors… Named to the state 2A all-tournament team and the Nike Interstate Shootout All-Star Team as a junior… Finished with 17 points and 23 rebounds in a semifinal win over Union HS… Added 12 points and 17 rebounds in the championship against Burns HS… Averaged 13.6 points and 10.3 rebounds as a sophomore, helping the Pioneers to the state championship game, and 14.6 points and 14.5 rebounds as a freshman, earning her team a state semifinal berth… Named to the McMinnville News Register All-Valley first team her first three prep seasons in both basketball and soccer, while also earning All-Valley honors in basketball from the Salem Statesman Journal… Also played three years of soccer for the Pioneers as a goalkeeper, earning a trio of all-league honors… Plays for the AAU Oregon Elite, earning MVP honors at the 2012 End of Trail Shootout and all-tournament honors at the 2014 tournament. Head Coach Jennifer Gross: "Emma is an imposing presence inside. She is a physical post who can score well with both hands, but is also comfortable facing up for the jumper. I love how hard Emma works and know that she has the drive to become a dominant post player in our conference."