RUSTON, La. – Louisiana Tech head coach Mark Montgomery announced Wednesday that Iowa Western Community College All-American Zoe Hicks has enrolled in school and is expected to be eligible to play for the Lady Techsters this season.

Hicks signed with Buffalo and spent the fall with the program before asking for and being granted her release.

The 5-foot-8-inch native of Boissevain, Manitoba, Canada, was named a National Junior College Athletic Association Division I First Team All-American this past year while also earning second team All-America honors by Fastpitch News and third team All-America honors by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

"We are really excited to add Zoe to our team," said Montgomery. "She is a strong lefty that we really needed and has the ability to play first base or outfield and even pitch. She is just a perfect fit for our program right now. We feel she will be another important piece of the puzzle as we compete for a conference title and another postseason appearance this year."

She led Iowa Western to 44 wins and a regional finals appearance as a sophomore, earning a spot on the All-Region XI team as the ICCAC Offensive Player of the Year. At the plate as a sophomore with a .488 batting average with seven home runs, 24 doubles, 71 RBI and 66 runs scored. In the circle, she posted a 16-5 record with a 2.69 earned run average while striking out 130 batters on the year.

"Throughout this process, Coach Montgomery really showed he wanted me to be a part of the program," said Hicks. "I know how competitive this program has been during Coach Montgomery's time and am excited about a chance to play for a conference championship and postseason play."

Hicks played only one year of high school softball at Boissevain School where she helped lead the program to the Zone 9 banner (first in school history) and the bronze medal at Provincials.