Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus San Diego State on February 4, 2026 , Win , 57, to, 44
W Basketball
vs San Diego State
W 57-44
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
PG
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's BasketballEnergy, volume rise for Miller's 1st practice
7/23/2020 5:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball, Paul Coro
New GCU women's basketball era gets underway with intensity, goals established
There was a Thursday afternoon stretch when the second hand on a clock seemed to turn as quickly and constantly as the Grand Canyon women's basketball players' legs in the GCU Basketball Practice Facility.
Hired on April 7 to put a product on the court, Lopes women's basketball head coach Molly Miller and her staff have worked arduously and creatively for 15 weeks until they could be on the GCU court with their team Thursday.
By every player and coach account, the fun made time fly.
"I've been waiting for this day for a long time," Miller said. "Ever since I got the job, you just want to get out there and work with your kids. I've been dreaming about it. I was like a kid before Christmas, anticipating all the fun and excitement of the day."
The spirit of her program was established with a first practice that was high in energy and volume amid the cautionary masks, gloves and eyewear on GCU coaches.
From the time the Lopes broke their opening talk on "Family" in a circle of elbows touching, Miller laid the groundwork of her basketball system with an emphasis on defensive fundamentals and a vocal energy that energized players. Thirty minutes of practice passed before she said, "Let's get some shots up already, whaddya say?"
And when the Lopes turned to offense, it was a peek into the high-tempo system that Miller used to win 91.4% of her games over six seasons at Drury. The team went through a full-court drill of outlet passes and fastbreak finishes in which the rebounder did both each time, just as Miller sprinted alongside them.
"I'm probably going to need the ice bath more than them after this, honestly," Miller said.
"I just want them to have fun and enjoy the process. With anything new, you're going to hit bumps in the road and they're going to have to make adjustments but I'm excited for their attitudes about that and how they're going to approach every day."
Leading up to Thursday, the team had spent time together in Zoom meetings, strength and conditioning workouts and social gatherings to lead up to the program's first practice in four months.
"It was a good energy to be around," GCU sophomore forward Mae Bryant said. "I haven't been around that kind of consistent energy in a while so it was very refreshing. I'm looking forward to how the season is going to go.
"I had no idea what to expect but I'm happy with how it was. We've got to get in shape but, other than that, it's cool. We're working toward a strong goal and we're on the same page. All good things are coming together."
Bryant already brings a high-energy style that fits into Miller's system, which has dominated Division II opponents with full-court pressure and uptempo offense. What Miller saw in length and athleticism Thursday bodes well for the potential of her defensive vision.
The players' vocal and physical energy grew throughout practice with just as much laughter as heavy breaths. High fives were replaced with applause, head nods and air daps as Miller's encouragement reached players at six baskets.
"It was really exciting," said freshman center Katie Scott, who was the Missouri Gatorade Girls Basketball Player of the Year. "I was nervous but Coach Miller is awesome so it was fun. We got after it and I think that set the tone for the year.
"I don't think I've ever screamed that much in a practice but it was all good screams. I was cheering everybody on and I'm really happy to be in an environment where that's expected. It's a fun brand of basketball. I can't imagine having more fun in a practice. I'm so happy and satisfied with my decision."
It marked a special time for GCU women's basketball, not just for the first practice under Miller and her new staff. The practice joined freshman Tiarra Brown with her sister, Tianna, a Lopes junior. Sophomore guard Taylor Caldwell returned to action for the first time since suffering a knee injury last preseason.
"We're going to make history," Miller told her players before they began practice.
She was setting the tone for the goal of this team to become the first Lopes women's basketball team to qualify for the NCAA Division I tournament.
"We should have really high expectations and goals that we want to achieve," Miller said. "I think those goals are realistic for this team. You're going to have to come work every day and that's the sacrifice and the fun part of it. You're going to sweat a little bit. You're going to be tired. You're going to have aches and pains. But at the end, it should all be worth it."
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Hired on April 7 to put a product on the court, Lopes women's basketball head coach Molly Miller and her staff have worked arduously and creatively for 15 weeks until they could be on the GCU court with their team Thursday.
By every player and coach account, the fun made time fly.
"I've been waiting for this day for a long time," Miller said. "Ever since I got the job, you just want to get out there and work with your kids. I've been dreaming about it. I was like a kid before Christmas, anticipating all the fun and excitement of the day."
The spirit of her program was established with a first practice that was high in energy and volume amid the cautionary masks, gloves and eyewear on GCU coaches.
From the time the Lopes broke their opening talk on "Family" in a circle of elbows touching, Miller laid the groundwork of her basketball system with an emphasis on defensive fundamentals and a vocal energy that energized players. Thirty minutes of practice passed before she said, "Let's get some shots up already, whaddya say?"
And when the Lopes turned to offense, it was a peek into the high-tempo system that Miller used to win 91.4% of her games over six seasons at Drury. The team went through a full-court drill of outlet passes and fastbreak finishes in which the rebounder did both each time, just as Miller sprinted alongside them.
"I'm probably going to need the ice bath more than them after this, honestly," Miller said."I just want them to have fun and enjoy the process. With anything new, you're going to hit bumps in the road and they're going to have to make adjustments but I'm excited for their attitudes about that and how they're going to approach every day."
Leading up to Thursday, the team had spent time together in Zoom meetings, strength and conditioning workouts and social gatherings to lead up to the program's first practice in four months.
"It was a good energy to be around," GCU sophomore forward Mae Bryant said. "I haven't been around that kind of consistent energy in a while so it was very refreshing. I'm looking forward to how the season is going to go.
"I had no idea what to expect but I'm happy with how it was. We've got to get in shape but, other than that, it's cool. We're working toward a strong goal and we're on the same page. All good things are coming together."
Bryant already brings a high-energy style that fits into Miller's system, which has dominated Division II opponents with full-court pressure and uptempo offense. What Miller saw in length and athleticism Thursday bodes well for the potential of her defensive vision.
The players' vocal and physical energy grew throughout practice with just as much laughter as heavy breaths. High fives were replaced with applause, head nods and air daps as Miller's encouragement reached players at six baskets.
"It was really exciting," said freshman center Katie Scott, who was the Missouri Gatorade Girls Basketball Player of the Year. "I was nervous but Coach Miller is awesome so it was fun. We got after it and I think that set the tone for the year.
"I don't think I've ever screamed that much in a practice but it was all good screams. I was cheering everybody on and I'm really happy to be in an environment where that's expected. It's a fun brand of basketball. I can't imagine having more fun in a practice. I'm so happy and satisfied with my decision."
It marked a special time for GCU women's basketball, not just for the first practice under Miller and her new staff. The practice joined freshman Tiarra Brown with her sister, Tianna, a Lopes junior. Sophomore guard Taylor Caldwell returned to action for the first time since suffering a knee injury last preseason.
"We're going to make history," Miller told her players before they began practice.
She was setting the tone for the goal of this team to become the first Lopes women's basketball team to qualify for the NCAA Division I tournament.
"We should have really high expectations and goals that we want to achieve," Miller said. "I think those goals are realistic for this team. You're going to have to come work every day and that's the sacrifice and the fun part of it. You're going to sweat a little bit. You're going to be tired. You're going to have aches and pains. But at the end, it should all be worth it."
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