By ALEX ABATE ~ DAR Sports Writer

GREENVILLE -- Sara Woodgeard has had to wait over a month, but she can now breathe a small sigh of relief.

After verbally committing to play basketball at Three Rivers in late February, Woodgeard signed her letter of intent Tuesday to play for the Lady Raiders next season.

"I have finally decided where I want to go and I am glad it is out of my hair, and I don't have to worry about it anymore," Woodgeard said. "I am real excited about next year and getting to meet the team and getting to play with (Coach) Jack (Childress). I think it is going to be awesome."

The signing was something that Childress wanted to get accomplished, he said.

"We feel like she is just an awful good player that will fit right in with us and be able to step right in and do some good things," Childress said.

Woodgeard is coming to a team that already has some weapons. Fareedah Washington will be back in the post while Meridith Medlin is a solid guard that can run the offense. The sharp-shooting Morgan Davis and Kaci Menz will also be impact contributors in their second seasons. The many offensive options along with Woodgeard can only help, Childress said.

"More than likely, (she) is not going to see the double and triple teams she saw this year," Childress said. "If they do triple-team her, they are going to pay the price because she passes the ball so well and sees the open person."

Woodgeard had three successful seasons at Greenville as she was named to the All-State team three times. Although she was successful as a Lady Bear, she knows the talent level will grow as she moves to college.

"It is going to be a whole different level of competition," she said. "I am going to have to work twice as hard. I am willing to work hard and get better."

"The basics is what gets you through everything, so just taking that and learning everything from my coach and taking it to the college level and hoping it works," Woodgeard said.

As a senior, Woodgeard averaged 22.4 points per game and 14 rebounds. Those solid numbers made her the focus of teams' defenses but as a freshman many at Three Rivers she may have more of a different role, but it shouldn't affect her performance, Greenville coach Diane Meyer said.

"I don't think that will even phase her I think that might even make her better," Meyer said. "She is one of those girls that likes the challenge and likes to work into a position. It is something that she will ease into just fine."

The Lady Raiders may ask Woodgeard to step outside and take some shots, something she did rarely, if ever, at Greenville.

"I think she is going to get better and better because she is going to start shooting the 3-pointer a little more," Childress said.

Woodgeard has been schooled well on the game by Meyer as well as assistant coach Todd Porter over her time at Greenville, Childress said.

"Diane and Todd have done an awesome job with her," Childress said. "She is going to have a big summer and I think she is going to stay busy playing AAU basketball and that just is going to help us also."