RUSTON - Louisiana Tech continued rebuilding its post game Wednesday as the Lady Techsters inked Midland Junior College forward Tashia Combs to a national letter of intent.

The 6-foot-1-inch Combs will be another piece to head coach Kurt Budke's puzzle in trying to replace the 33 points and 17 rebounds lost by the graduation of forwards Trina Frierson and Amisha Carter, both 2004 WNBA selections.

Combs teamed at Midland the past two years with Tosha Christmas, a Tech early period signee, and the duo helped lead Coach Ron Jones and the Lady Chaps to the 2003 National Junior College Athletic Association national tournament and a third place finish as freshmen.

"Obviously, she helps fill a void of losing two great post players to the WNBA," Budke said. "She is physically strong and a solid low post threat. What she does best is rebound. We're excited to have her at Louisiana Tech."

During freshman season, Combs averaged 8.2 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 54 percent from the field for the 31-6 Lady Chaps while being named the most improved player on the Midland squad. This past year, Combs upped those averages to 14.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per contest for a 20-10 Midland team while shooting 53 percent from the field.

"Tashia is a complete player," said Midland Coach Ron Jones. "She doesn't have many weaknesses either offensively or defensively. She is a competitor; loves the game and likes to play physically. She can score, rebound and defend. She is a little undersized but plays big."

Combs earned Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year Awards for Midland this season while also being named first team all-conference and all-region.

The Midwest City, Okla., native prepped at Star Spencer High School in Spencer, Okla., for head coach Janieth Johnson, helping lead the program to four straight district titles and an appearance in the state tournament her senior year.

The all-everything Combs also lettered in volleyball, soccer, softball and track and field at Star Spencer and was a member of the school's state qualifying 400- and 800-meter relay teams as a freshman in high school.

"As soon as I stepped foot on campus, I knew (that's where I wanted to be)," Combs said. "A happy feeling came over me. You can tell there is a family atmosphere among the players and coaches."

Combs, the daughter of Thressa Combs, is the niece of former Bulldog Basketball assistant coach LeRoy Combs who was a member of Jim Woolridge's Louisiana Tech staff during the 1995-96 season. LeRoy was an All-Big Eight Conference standout at Oklahoma State in the early 1980s before being the No. 1 selection of the Indiana Pacers in the 1983 NBA Draft.

Combs joins Christmas, a 5-foot-10-inch forward, and 6-foot-7-inch Seward County Community College center Margaret DeCiman as Tech's three signees thus far. Budke said the Techsters still have two scholarships that could be filled in the next few weeks.

Junior college: Lettered for Coach Ron Jones at Midland ? Helped lead Midland to a 20-10 record as a sophomore ? Helped lead the Lady Chaps to a 31-6 record, the 2003 WJCAC Championship, the 2003 NJCAA Region V Championship and a third place finish in the NJCAA National Tournament ? Averaged 14.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per game as a sophomore while averaging only 24 minutes a game ? Shot 53 percent from the field and 57 percent from the free throw line ? Scored a season-high 29 points against Weatherford College ? Scored in double digits 23 times and grabbed 10 or more rebounds 14 times ? Named Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year as a sophomore ? Also earned first team All-Western Junior College Athletic Conference and all-region as a sophomore ? As a freshman averaged 8.2 points and 5.6 rebounds a game while shooting 54 percent from the field ? Named Most Improved Player on her team as a freshman ? High School: Lettered for four years for Janieth Johnson at Star Spencer HS in Spencer, Okla. ? Helped lead Star Spencer HS to four straight district titles ? As a senior helped lead her team to the state tournament ? Scored 22 points and grabbed 23 rebounds in a high school playoff game in the Oklahoma State Girls Basketball Tournament ? Named Female Athlete of the Year for 2001-02 and Outstanding Defensive Player in 2001-02 ? Also lettered in volleyball, soccer, softball and track and field ? Ran the 400-meter relay 800-meter relay 100 meters, 200 meters and 100-meter hurdles ? Advanced to state in 400-meter relay and 800-meter relays as a freshman ? Personal: Daughter of Thressa Combs ? Has one younger brother, Ja'Vion ? Her Uncle Leroy Combs served as an assistant coach for the Louisiana Tech men's program during the 1995-96 season ? Leroy was an All-Big Eight Conference selection during his senior year at Oklahoma State before being the Indiana Pacers No. 1 pick in the 1983 NBA Draft ? Born Sept. 14, 1984, born in Midwest City, Okla ? Age 19.