CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cleveland State women's basketball head coach Kate Peterson Abiad has announced another addition for the upcoming 2015-16 season, as Mariana Bautista has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Cleveland State University beginning next fall. Bautista, a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin will have four years of eligibility remaining.

"I received a phone call midway through the season regarding the play of Mariana, and a week later I received another call and realized that I better take a look at her. I knew right away that Mari was my kind of player," Peterson Abiad said. "After speaking with her on the phone, getting to know her values and aspirations, I was confident that she would be a valuable addition to our team. Her athleticism and savvy play make her a perfect fit for our offensive system, but most important is her drive to be the best. I am very excited that Mari is now officially a Viking."

Bautista is a 5-7 combo guard from Heritage Christian High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she led the Patriots to an 88-15 overall record throughout her high school campaign.

As a senior, Bautista led Heritage Christian in all major statistical categories averaging 16.0 points, 11.2 rebounds, 7.3 steals, and 7.2 assists per game – earning Midwest Classic Conference Player of the Year honors. With Bautista's help, the Patriots were a top-10 team in the Division 5 Associated Press state poll throughout the 2014-15 season.

Bautista was named First Team All-State and All-Conference as a junior and senior, while she also picked up All-Conference Second Team accolades as a sophomore.

During her high school career, she was part of four Midwest Classic Conference championship teams, a Wisconsin State Championship team as a freshman, and a Wisconsin State Tournament final four team as a junior.

Bautista joins Sierra Davidson (Avon, Ohio), Nicolete Newman (Pittsburgh, Pa.), and Emily Stoller (Fairmont, W. Va.), who signed with the Vikings in November to compile the 2015-16 freshman class.