Transfer of power strengthens roster

Just when it does not seem Lope Nation has heard much from Grand Canyon women's basketball since its last bounces and swishes in the Women's National Invitation Tournament, it turns out the Lopes were making noise behind the scenes.

After already adding four freshmen in the fall, GCU head coach Molly Miller and her staff upgraded their roster through the transfer portal with four signees who signed this week to join the Lopes in the fall.

"There is a lot of excitement amongst our staff surrounding our new additions to the roster that were made this spring," Miller said as she prepares for her third GCU season. "We have a well-rounded group of transfers that will add instant contributions at a high level to help achieve our goals of a conference championship."

GCU is adding the Summit League's top two rebounders in 6-foot-2 Olivia Lane from North Dakota and 6-foot-2 Evan Zars from Western Illinois, as well as junior college All-American point guard Maisa Marcal of Brazil and a Phoenix homecoming with former WAC 3-point shooting champion Sydney Palma from California Baptist.

"We have two very skilled post players that are hardworking, have high basketball IQs and are bigtime rebounders and capable scorers that will be plug-in ready for our system," Miller said. "With their versatility, we can even play them together if we want to go bigger and longer, which is a great luxury in our 'positionless' system, especially on the defensive end. When you have the top two rebounders in the Summit League join your team, who are double-double machines, it can only elevate our inside presence and make us a better basketball team in the paint."

Olivia Lane

Lane, who is from Merrifield, Minnesota, passed on Power 5 offers to join GCU after averaging 11.8 points and a conference-best 9.0 rebounds last season for North Dakota. In starting 23 of 26 games, Lane shot 48% from the field and 69% on free throws to post three 20-point games, including a 25-point night against Denver.

Lane accumulated nine double-doubles despite missing the first five games of season for COVID-19 protocols. With aggressive, physical play, Lane posted five consecutive double-doubles last season and showed the perimeter defensive capability to fit Miller's system.

"Olivia is an exciting addition who will have two years of eligibility left and will no doubt make a big and immediate splash in the conference," Miller said. "Her mobility and length will make her a tough matchup for opposing teams. She will fit well in the transition, fast-paced offense and her ability to move and think on the court lends itself nicely to the defensive system.

"She is another extremely smart player who I believe will do whatever it takes to win. Her character and attitude are other reasons why we wanted to recruit Liv to be a part of what we are building here at GCU. I know we will give her a big Lopes welcome as she calls GCU her next home."

Evan Zars

Zars finished just behind Lane in Summit League rebounding with 8.8 boards per game, along with averages of 10.8 points and 1.2 blocks. The graduate transfer started every game over the past three seasons for Western Illinois and averaged 9.0 rebounds over that span. She has 102 career starts in four years, including a freshman season at Saint Louis.

Zars, a native of Shawnee, Kansas, also posted three double-doubles that included an 18-point, 13-rebound effort against Lane at North Dakota. She shot 52% from the field as a sophomore and 54% in each of the past two seasons.

"I have recruited Evan since she was a sophomore in high school, so to have this full circle moment and get to coach her is pretty special to me," Miller said. "Her experience will be valuable to this team and I love what she brings to the program, not only to the floor but as a representative of GCU women's basketball.

"Fans will appreciate her work ethic and the poise and toughness in which she plays the game. I am going to love coaching Evan because she is a student of the game, and even in her final year, wants to get better and keep learning. I know she will be an impact player for us and I am so excited that she is going to venture to Phoenix and show the WAC what she can do."

Sydney Palma

Palma is well acquainted with GCU from growing up in nearby Anthem, playing against the Lopes in the WAC for the past three seasons and being the daughter of a former Lopes women's basketball player. Palma, a 5-foot-9 guard, graduated from Boulder Creek High School in 2018 before redshirting her first year at California Baptist. Since then, she has made 88 appearances with 52 starts over the past two years.

Sydney Palma

Palma led the WAC in 3-point percentage in 2020-21, when she made 44.7% of her 3s. She has delivered consistent averages over her three seasons, going from 6.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists as a redshirt freshman to 6.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists as a sophomore and 5.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists last season.

"Sydney is a proven winner in the WAC and we are thrilled she is coming home to spend her last two years of eligibility at GCU," Miller said. "She plays with a tenacity and grit that I admire and appreciate. I think her ability to knock down open shots, as well as her decision-making, will open up some things for us on the offensive end.

"Sydney is a competitor, and that every-day mindset will help our team grow and compete at the highest level. I love that she knows what it takes to win in this league and fans will love the passion in which she plays the game. Welcome home, Syd!"

Maisa Marcal

Marcal, a 5-foot-9 point guard, was the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Co-Player of the Year last season for Independence (Kansas), where she averaged 14.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.7 steals in 25.3 minutes per game last season for a regional champion. The Lencois Paulista, Brazil, native was named to a junior college All-America third team.

She averaged 12 points over her three-year stay, including a COVID-19 waiver, and has two remaining years of eligibility for GCU.

"Maisa comes in as an experienced point guard who is extremely talented, savvy and capable of putting a team on her back like a true PG typically does," said Miller, a former point guard. "My favorite thing, as we watched her in the recruiting process, was how she starts the break and takes advantage of transition opportunities. She is constantly scanning the floor looking for ways to set up her teammates.

"She is a vocal leader on the floor who does a great job communicating and directing her teammates. I also cannot wait to plug her into the defensive system with her length and motor. I think she will have lots of success on both sides of the ball with how we play. We are so excited she is a part of the GCU family."

After going 40-17 and reaching the WAC Tournament championship game twice, the Lopes will return two of their top three scorers in guard Tiarra Brown and forward Dominique Phillips, among others, while adding a freshman class of combo guard Ellie Buzzelle of Rogers, Minnesota, power forward Alaina Harper of Hartland, Wisconsin, guard Emma Krueger of Topeka, Kansas, and wing player Laila McLeod of Detroit.

Grand Canyon University Athletics

Olivia Lane

Evan Zars

Sydney Palma

Maisa Marcal

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