CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Southern Utah University women's basketball team and head coach Chris Boettcher are excited to welcome their new Assistant Coach, Anne Freitas Sabatini from Americana, Brazil.

Sabatini has an extensive background with basketball, having coached for 20 years. She worked with 7-19 year-olds for 14 years, and coached for the Brazil National Team for the last five years. Sabatini has a bachelor's degree in Physical Education from the Universidade Metodista de Piracicaba.

Sabatini began as a physical education instructor, she then moved on to coach for ADCF Unimed Americana from 2001-2014, a professional women's basketball club with amateur development program. Sabatini then became a coach with the CBB Brazilian Basketball Confederation from 2012-2017 and acted as Director of Basketball Operations in 2017 with the ADCF Unimed Sicoob.

In 2015, Sabatini helped lead the U16 Brazil National team to a victory over the United States in the semi-finals of the America's Cup for a second place finish, only to fall to Canada in overtime by one point in the championship game.

Sabatini also developed and trained over five athletes in Brazil who have moved into Division I programs within the NCAA.

Some of Sabatini's other achievements include State head coach of the year U13 (2004) U14 (2005) U15 (2006, 2010, 2012, 2013), State Champions U13 (2001, 2004) U14 (2005) U15 (2006, 2019, 2012) U19 (2004), National Champions U17 (2007) U15 (2010, 2011), South America Tournament Champions U15 (2012, 2014).

Sabatini's other accomplishments include FIBA Americas Cup U16 (2013) third place acting as assistant coach U16 (2016) second place acting as head coach. FIBA World Championships U17 (2014) ninth place acting as assistant coach U17 (2016) 13th acting as head coach.  

Sabatini says she is excited about the opportunity to coach in the United States.

"The U.S. is the best country when it comes to women's basketball, it's different here than it is in Brazil," Sabatini said.

Sabatini has moved to America with her husband Felipe and 10-year-old son Eduardo and she says they have been enjoying their time in Cedar City so far.

"We love it here, it's a beautiful area and feels so calm," Sabatini said.

Sabatini said she likes working with the Lady T-Birds, they are hard workers and have been very welcoming.

Boettcher said they are really lucky to have Anne as a part of the coaching staff.

"To have someone that has coached at the national level is huge, we are really excited to have Anne here," Boettcher said.  

Sabatini looks forward to working with the women and the staff this season.

"I hope to help the women develop individually and as a team," Sabatini said.

The Lady T-Birds will host their first exhibition game of the 2017-18 season on October 30 against Northern New Mexico College in the America First Event Center.

To stay up to date during the games and throughout the 2017-18 season follow @SUUWBasketball on Twitter and Instagram and like the SUU Women's Basketball page on Facebook.