Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus San Diego State on February 4, 2026 , Win , 57, to, 44
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vs San Diego State
W 57-44
Grand Canyon University Athletics
GCU's 11 new players fit into system
9/1/2021 11:37:00 AM | Women's Basketball, Paul Coro
Practices show how Miller's additions enhance Lopes' style
When the Grand Canyon women's basketball team practices, the look of frenetic feet and hyper hands are familiar even when the faces are not.
The Lopes retooled their roster, bringing back their five steal leaders from the nation's No. 2 steals team while adding 11 new players who fit the style being established.
GCU second-year head coach Molly Miller's system took a learning curve last season, when the Lopes developed into an 18-7 team. This time, Miller has returning players who are equipped to embrace being the court examples for newcomers to follow.
"It's totally different than starting from ground zero," said Miller, who needed to participate in drills to show the team last summer. "I think we're going to be deeper. We're going to be better in all areas. Now that we've implemented a little bit defensively and really focused on that last year, the offense is going to catch up in Year 2. It's going to be really good to have this time that we didn't have last year to work with them and not feel rushed come October and November when things start to come pretty fast."
The optimism comes from the expected impact of 11 first-year players, who Miller and her staff found to be fits for a team that is refining defensively and improving offensively. Here is an introduction to the class, including four graduate transfers:
Chloe Akin-Otiko is the newcomer who looks familiar. Akin-Otiko did not play for GCU last season because she suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her knee just before the season opener.
The former Kansas track star made a dedicated summer transition last year to basketball, the sport where she was a prep star in Bellevue, Nebraska. She rehabilitated the knee and opted to play out her basketball dream.
"I do think she has a little bit of something to prove," Miller said. "I admire that about her. It would be easy to just call it and move on with life, but she is attacking physical therapy and coming back on the court and she looks good. She's strong. She will help us.
"She hasn't really missed a beat. You'd think someone missing a year would be back at square one, but I noticed that she was on the sideline paying attention and was engaged last year. When you understand everything mentally, you're able to do it physically."
Miller was excited about the type of fit that Kassidy Dixon will be for the program after seeing her become a repeat Arizona state champion at Goodyear Millennium High School earlier this year. That might have to wait, as Dixon works her way back from knee surgery.
That has not quelled the 5-foot-9 wing player's spirits in the GCU Basketball Facility.
"She has an amazing presence about her, on and off the floor," Miller said. "You talk about culture kids. As she's trying to recover from her injury, there's no lack of energy on the sideline from her. She's a really good teammate."
The best news Naudia Evans received since arriving at GCU this summer was that she had 24-hour access to the GCU Basketball Facility. The Waynesville (Mo.) High School four-year starter lives there as much as her campus suite, turning the 5-foot-6 guard into a reliable shooter.
"She is a gym rat," Miller said. "She probably gets the most joy out of anyone I coach of being in the gym. It's so fun to see and she's getting it. She's also one who is very coachable. You're talking to her giving instruction and she's nodding her head. I've seen a major jump in the defensive category because she wants to get it right and because she practices on her own. That hard work is going to pay off for sure. She's just a great kid to coach."
Kiyley Flowers joins GCUÂ from Miller's home state of Missouri, where the 5-foot-7 point guard grew up in the Kansas City area and was one of three seniors at The Barstow School to sign with Division I programs.
"She is so comfortable and she's such a great teammate," Miller said. "She doesn't have bad days and that's what I love about her. She's going to outwork, outwant, outprepare. She is one of those kids who does anything you ask her to do and then she'll exceed the expectations in your request. She is definitely one of those players who will run through a wall for anyone she's playing with and anyone on the sideline cheering for her. She's got a good motor that will fit the system."
Any scoring concern was quickly alleviated with the arrival of Amara Graham, a graduate transfer who led the WAC in scoring last season with 16.5 points per game and 37% 3-point shooting for UT Rio Grande Valley. GCU offers Graham, a 5-foot-6 combo guard, the chance to round out her game as a two-way player and go farther in the postseason.
"AG is our instant offense solution," Miller said. "She knows that side of the ball so well. She has a very high basketball IQ. My challenge that I presented to her is let's take your game to the next level with making you a new dynamic defensive player.
"It's going to be phenomenal to have that scoring presence on the court and she's already earned that street cred in the conference. When she steps on the court, you better guard her."
Jay McChristine's presence in her early GCU practices instantly established where her impact would lie. The Lopes' 6-foot-1 power forward averaged 9.3 points and 7.3 rebounds at Indiana State last season after averaging 11.0 points and 6.5 rebounds as a junior.
"The physicality and the rebounding was a void for us and she fills that," Miller said. "She's going to be really physical. She has a knack for rebounding. I want her to lead the league in offensive rebounds. She's very capable of doing that. As a transfer, she's not going to know the system, but we see how she can fit into it."
Arizona high school basketball followers know about Dominique Phillips, who won 2019 Gatorade Player of the Year for state champion Goodyear Millennium. The skilled 6-foot forward made the Mountain West's All-Freshman Team for Nevada but suffered a season-ending knee injury, which led to limited work last season in seven games. She is making a determined comeback in her hometown.
"Dom is going to help this team right after the bat," Miller said. "She's one of the better shooters that we have. She's tough-nosed so she's not afraid to get into the mix, rebounding or post-up. She's a very multi-dimensional player, sometimes on the perimeter, sometimes inside.
"I'm probably most impressed with her in the offseason. We took July and I don't think Dom did. She's hungry. That hunger, passion and fire really fits our system to our tee so she is going to be a big piece for us."
Ja'Mya Powell-Smith may be a freshman, but the 5-foot-5 point guard practices like she already has played in the GCU system. Powell-Smith started four seasons at North Kansas City (Mo.) High School, where she averaged 21.7 points as a senior and showed a knack for defensive angles and anticipation.
"I call her a defensive dog because she is all over the place," Miller said. "She's got a motor. She's here, there, everywhere. She gets it and she really wants to learn. She's asking to get film on past players who have done well in the system. She really wants to learn and she's soaking it all up. She's going to be a tempo setter on that side of the ball."
The Lopes picked up some much-needed size in 6-foot-4 center Lauren Rewers, who brings a repertoire on the skill side too. Rewers, a former Hawaii starter who played at Michigan State last season, is a graduate student who can be a post and perimeter presence.
"She is going to be what we need to matchup with those other bigs in the league," Miller said. "She's that answer. To Lauren's credit, she can knock down a 3 or she can score on the block. Her ability to stretch the floor is going to be dangerous in terms of how we play. She'll be able to spot up and play outside a little bit with her skill set.
"She's going to add some maturity and experience that this team needs. Also, you can tell she's hungry. The past couple years, she didn't get her break but this is her time to shine."
McKenna Simons is GCU's third freshman from the Kansas City area, where she was ranked as the ninth-best player in Kansas. She also starred in volleyball and track and field for Blue Valley North High School in Overland Park.
"She's very athletic, which fits in our system," Miller said. "Her best basketball is ahead of her. She's got a high ceiling. She's taking it all in. Freshmen have to figure out what their role is and play to the best of their ability.
"I think one of her roles is to use her length to the best of her ability, be able to trap with almost everything. She's pretty capable of guarding 1 through 5 (point guard through center) and can make a lot of things happen with her athleticism on defense."
Ambranette Storr scored nearly 3,000 points at Kanakee (Ill.) High School, blistering opponents with 31.8 points per game as a senior. But from the looks of her game since she arrived at GCU this summer, Storr apparently has more points in her. The 5-foot-9 guard transferred from Moberly Area Community College after initially signing with Drake.
"Amber is going to have a knack offensively," Miller said. "She's going to have to get reps to learn the system defensively. She can knock down a 3. She's explosive and can get to the basket. Now it's going to be turning that defensive mentality into the first priority."
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The Lopes retooled their roster, bringing back their five steal leaders from the nation's No. 2 steals team while adding 11 new players who fit the style being established.
GCU second-year head coach Molly Miller's system took a learning curve last season, when the Lopes developed into an 18-7 team. This time, Miller has returning players who are equipped to embrace being the court examples for newcomers to follow."It's totally different than starting from ground zero," said Miller, who needed to participate in drills to show the team last summer. "I think we're going to be deeper. We're going to be better in all areas. Now that we've implemented a little bit defensively and really focused on that last year, the offense is going to catch up in Year 2. It's going to be really good to have this time that we didn't have last year to work with them and not feel rushed come October and November when things start to come pretty fast."
The optimism comes from the expected impact of 11 first-year players, who Miller and her staff found to be fits for a team that is refining defensively and improving offensively. Here is an introduction to the class, including four graduate transfers:
Chloe Akin-Otiko, graduate
Chloe Akin-Otiko is the newcomer who looks familiar. Akin-Otiko did not play for GCU last season because she suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her knee just before the season opener.The former Kansas track star made a dedicated summer transition last year to basketball, the sport where she was a prep star in Bellevue, Nebraska. She rehabilitated the knee and opted to play out her basketball dream.
"I do think she has a little bit of something to prove," Miller said. "I admire that about her. It would be easy to just call it and move on with life, but she is attacking physical therapy and coming back on the court and she looks good. She's strong. She will help us.
"She hasn't really missed a beat. You'd think someone missing a year would be back at square one, but I noticed that she was on the sideline paying attention and was engaged last year. When you understand everything mentally, you're able to do it physically."
Kassidy Dixon, freshman
Miller was excited about the type of fit that Kassidy Dixon will be for the program after seeing her become a repeat Arizona state champion at Goodyear Millennium High School earlier this year. That might have to wait, as Dixon works her way back from knee surgery.That has not quelled the 5-foot-9 wing player's spirits in the GCU Basketball Facility.
"She has an amazing presence about her, on and off the floor," Miller said. "You talk about culture kids. As she's trying to recover from her injury, there's no lack of energy on the sideline from her. She's a really good teammate."
Naudia Evans, freshman
The best news Naudia Evans received since arriving at GCU this summer was that she had 24-hour access to the GCU Basketball Facility. The Waynesville (Mo.) High School four-year starter lives there as much as her campus suite, turning the 5-foot-6 guard into a reliable shooter."She is a gym rat," Miller said. "She probably gets the most joy out of anyone I coach of being in the gym. It's so fun to see and she's getting it. She's also one who is very coachable. You're talking to her giving instruction and she's nodding her head. I've seen a major jump in the defensive category because she wants to get it right and because she practices on her own. That hard work is going to pay off for sure. She's just a great kid to coach."
Kiyley Flowers, freshman
Kiyley Flowers joins GCUÂ from Miller's home state of Missouri, where the 5-foot-7 point guard grew up in the Kansas City area and was one of three seniors at The Barstow School to sign with Division I programs."She is so comfortable and she's such a great teammate," Miller said. "She doesn't have bad days and that's what I love about her. She's going to outwork, outwant, outprepare. She is one of those kids who does anything you ask her to do and then she'll exceed the expectations in your request. She is definitely one of those players who will run through a wall for anyone she's playing with and anyone on the sideline cheering for her. She's got a good motor that will fit the system."
Amara Graham, graduate
Any scoring concern was quickly alleviated with the arrival of Amara Graham, a graduate transfer who led the WAC in scoring last season with 16.5 points per game and 37% 3-point shooting for UT Rio Grande Valley. GCU offers Graham, a 5-foot-6 combo guard, the chance to round out her game as a two-way player and go farther in the postseason."AG is our instant offense solution," Miller said. "She knows that side of the ball so well. She has a very high basketball IQ. My challenge that I presented to her is let's take your game to the next level with making you a new dynamic defensive player.
"It's going to be phenomenal to have that scoring presence on the court and she's already earned that street cred in the conference. When she steps on the court, you better guard her."
Jay McChristine, graduate
Jay McChristine's presence in her early GCU practices instantly established where her impact would lie. The Lopes' 6-foot-1 power forward averaged 9.3 points and 7.3 rebounds at Indiana State last season after averaging 11.0 points and 6.5 rebounds as a junior."The physicality and the rebounding was a void for us and she fills that," Miller said. "She's going to be really physical. She has a knack for rebounding. I want her to lead the league in offensive rebounds. She's very capable of doing that. As a transfer, she's not going to know the system, but we see how she can fit into it."
Dominique Phillips, junior
Arizona high school basketball followers know about Dominique Phillips, who won 2019 Gatorade Player of the Year for state champion Goodyear Millennium. The skilled 6-foot forward made the Mountain West's All-Freshman Team for Nevada but suffered a season-ending knee injury, which led to limited work last season in seven games. She is making a determined comeback in her hometown."Dom is going to help this team right after the bat," Miller said. "She's one of the better shooters that we have. She's tough-nosed so she's not afraid to get into the mix, rebounding or post-up. She's a very multi-dimensional player, sometimes on the perimeter, sometimes inside.
"I'm probably most impressed with her in the offseason. We took July and I don't think Dom did. She's hungry. That hunger, passion and fire really fits our system to our tee so she is going to be a big piece for us."
Ja'Mya Powell-Smith, freshman
Ja'Mya Powell-Smith may be a freshman, but the 5-foot-5 point guard practices like she already has played in the GCU system. Powell-Smith started four seasons at North Kansas City (Mo.) High School, where she averaged 21.7 points as a senior and showed a knack for defensive angles and anticipation."I call her a defensive dog because she is all over the place," Miller said. "She's got a motor. She's here, there, everywhere. She gets it and she really wants to learn. She's asking to get film on past players who have done well in the system. She really wants to learn and she's soaking it all up. She's going to be a tempo setter on that side of the ball."
Lauren Rewers, graduate
The Lopes picked up some much-needed size in 6-foot-4 center Lauren Rewers, who brings a repertoire on the skill side too. Rewers, a former Hawaii starter who played at Michigan State last season, is a graduate student who can be a post and perimeter presence."She is going to be what we need to matchup with those other bigs in the league," Miller said. "She's that answer. To Lauren's credit, she can knock down a 3 or she can score on the block. Her ability to stretch the floor is going to be dangerous in terms of how we play. She'll be able to spot up and play outside a little bit with her skill set.
"She's going to add some maturity and experience that this team needs. Also, you can tell she's hungry. The past couple years, she didn't get her break but this is her time to shine."
McKenna Simons, freshman
McKenna Simons is GCU's third freshman from the Kansas City area, where she was ranked as the ninth-best player in Kansas. She also starred in volleyball and track and field for Blue Valley North High School in Overland Park."She's very athletic, which fits in our system," Miller said. "Her best basketball is ahead of her. She's got a high ceiling. She's taking it all in. Freshmen have to figure out what their role is and play to the best of their ability.
"I think one of her roles is to use her length to the best of her ability, be able to trap with almost everything. She's pretty capable of guarding 1 through 5 (point guard through center) and can make a lot of things happen with her athleticism on defense."
Ambranette Storr, sophomore
Ambranette Storr scored nearly 3,000 points at Kanakee (Ill.) High School, blistering opponents with 31.8 points per game as a senior. But from the looks of her game since she arrived at GCU this summer, Storr apparently has more points in her. The 5-foot-9 guard transferred from Moberly Area Community College after initially signing with Drake."Amber is going to have a knack offensively," Miller said. "She's going to have to get reps to learn the system defensively. She can knock down a 3. She's explosive and can get to the basket. Now it's going to be turning that defensive mentality into the first priority."
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