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
Photo by: Jack Gilday/GCU
Proven duo joins Miller to share what favors GCU
10/16/2024 1:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball, Paul Coro
WAC Women's Basketball Preview Show features San Antonio, Brown
Grand Canyon women's basketball head coach Molly Miller was in an envious position Wednesday for the WAC Women's Basketball Preview Show – sitting between two Preseason All-WAC Team members.
Returning GCU junior guard Trinity San Antonio as Preseason WAC Player of the Year and senior wing Tiarra Brown after consecutive All-WAC first-team seasons was just enough to favor the Lopes' chances of grabbing their first WAC championship this season. A preseason coaches poll put GCU one voting point ahead of defending champion California Baptist.
"This is going to be a super-exciting GCU team to watch," ESPN and CBS Sports analyst Kelly Burke said on the ESPN+ show. "It feels like they have added the pieces that are necessary to take that next step to win a conference title and get to the NCAA tournament."
It will be a quest that Miller and Brown began when they arrived at GCU together in 2020, when Brown was Miller's first recruiting commitment. With a career of 1,159 points, 561 rebounds, 201 steals and 95 starts, Brown opted to use her COVID waiver for a graduate season with the Lopes.
"What's motivating me is Tiarra Brown," Miller said. "She's incredible. She's been my Day 1. For her to come back and represent GCU like she has, she's been loyal. That's a tough thing to come by these days. She's a special gem. I know her teammates want to rally around her. This coaching staff wants to rally around her. I can't wait for her to go out on the highest note she can at GCU."
If GCU gets there, it will be a testament to its staple of pressure defense and another progression from going 24-8 last season for its Division I era's largest win total.
The Lopes finished the season ranked 19th nationally for scoring defense and have reinforced the roster, which now includes 12 players with D-I starting experience.
"We have returners that can emphasize the brand and that it does work," Miller said. "We buy in because that's the side of the ball that we're committed to, and we're convicted to playing that style. We're excited to play that style. It's a fun style to watch and a good brand to play. We start there. I think our offense is actually going to catch up a little bit more quickly this year, but our defense is still our main priority."
Brown and San Antonio, the only teammates on the Preseason All-WAC Team, said they are transitioning from lead-by-example roles to more vocal leadership this season. Brown encourages the team's six transfers and one freshman to "buy in and trust the process."
"I'm a good defensive player, so I try to use that as motivation for the team to start out strong," Brown said.
San Antonio always is a dedicated worker in the shadows, but she also has evolved with her summer experience on Puerto Rico's Olympic team. She started two of three games in Paris for high-profile proof that vaulted her to Preseason WAC Player of the Year after not being chosen to the All-WAC first or second team last season, when she led GCU in points per game (11.5) and steals per game (2.3).
"Me and Tiarra are both a little silent, but we get to work and we get the job done," San Antonio said. "This year, it's more about getting outside of our role and being more vocal, especially with the younger players."
San Antonio and Brown were the team's top scorers last season and also ranked among the team's top three players for rebounds and steals. GCU also returns WAC Sixth Woman of the Year Laura Erikstrup and part-time starting point guard Callie Cooper.
The Imports have been highlighted by UNLV transfers Alyssa Durazo-Frescas, a senior with 197 career 3s on 42% accuracy, and Nneka Obiazor, a multi-threat graduate who has tallied 1,021 points and 532 rebounds in her career.
With perhaps the team's best depth and experience ever, Miller is emphasizing for the Lopes to play selflessly and remain process-oriented.
"That consistency within our program has yielded success," said Miller, whose GCU teams are 85-35 (.708). "We're not worried about the end goal because if you take care of those daily tasks, then we should have the result that we want."
The process toward GCU's first conference title starts in earnest with the team's Oct. 30 debut in an exhibition against Benedictine Mesa at Global Credit Union Arena, where the regular season will have a 4 p.m. Nov. 4 tipoff against Cal State Fullerton.
"You know any team coached by Molly Miller is going to play some defense," said show co-host Brandi Poole, a Dallas Wings assistant coach. "Her teams have been bought in through the years with that. When you can combine good defense with good offense, that gives you a really good opportunity to win a championship."
Returning GCU junior guard Trinity San Antonio as Preseason WAC Player of the Year and senior wing Tiarra Brown after consecutive All-WAC first-team seasons was just enough to favor the Lopes' chances of grabbing their first WAC championship this season. A preseason coaches poll put GCU one voting point ahead of defending champion California Baptist."This is going to be a super-exciting GCU team to watch," ESPN and CBS Sports analyst Kelly Burke said on the ESPN+ show. "It feels like they have added the pieces that are necessary to take that next step to win a conference title and get to the NCAA tournament."
It will be a quest that Miller and Brown began when they arrived at GCU together in 2020, when Brown was Miller's first recruiting commitment. With a career of 1,159 points, 561 rebounds, 201 steals and 95 starts, Brown opted to use her COVID waiver for a graduate season with the Lopes.
"What's motivating me is Tiarra Brown," Miller said. "She's incredible. She's been my Day 1. For her to come back and represent GCU like she has, she's been loyal. That's a tough thing to come by these days. She's a special gem. I know her teammates want to rally around her. This coaching staff wants to rally around her. I can't wait for her to go out on the highest note she can at GCU."
If GCU gets there, it will be a testament to its staple of pressure defense and another progression from going 24-8 last season for its Division I era's largest win total.
The Lopes finished the season ranked 19th nationally for scoring defense and have reinforced the roster, which now includes 12 players with D-I starting experience.
"We have returners that can emphasize the brand and that it does work," Miller said. "We buy in because that's the side of the ball that we're committed to, and we're convicted to playing that style. We're excited to play that style. It's a fun style to watch and a good brand to play. We start there. I think our offense is actually going to catch up a little bit more quickly this year, but our defense is still our main priority."
Brown and San Antonio, the only teammates on the Preseason All-WAC Team, said they are transitioning from lead-by-example roles to more vocal leadership this season. Brown encourages the team's six transfers and one freshman to "buy in and trust the process.""I'm a good defensive player, so I try to use that as motivation for the team to start out strong," Brown said.
San Antonio always is a dedicated worker in the shadows, but she also has evolved with her summer experience on Puerto Rico's Olympic team. She started two of three games in Paris for high-profile proof that vaulted her to Preseason WAC Player of the Year after not being chosen to the All-WAC first or second team last season, when she led GCU in points per game (11.5) and steals per game (2.3).
"Me and Tiarra are both a little silent, but we get to work and we get the job done," San Antonio said. "This year, it's more about getting outside of our role and being more vocal, especially with the younger players."
San Antonio and Brown were the team's top scorers last season and also ranked among the team's top three players for rebounds and steals. GCU also returns WAC Sixth Woman of the Year Laura Erikstrup and part-time starting point guard Callie Cooper.The Imports have been highlighted by UNLV transfers Alyssa Durazo-Frescas, a senior with 197 career 3s on 42% accuracy, and Nneka Obiazor, a multi-threat graduate who has tallied 1,021 points and 532 rebounds in her career.
With perhaps the team's best depth and experience ever, Miller is emphasizing for the Lopes to play selflessly and remain process-oriented.
"That consistency within our program has yielded success," said Miller, whose GCU teams are 85-35 (.708). "We're not worried about the end goal because if you take care of those daily tasks, then we should have the result that we want."
The process toward GCU's first conference title starts in earnest with the team's Oct. 30 debut in an exhibition against Benedictine Mesa at Global Credit Union Arena, where the regular season will have a 4 p.m. Nov. 4 tipoff against Cal State Fullerton.
"You know any team coached by Molly Miller is going to play some defense," said show co-host Brandi Poole, a Dallas Wings assistant coach. "Her teams have been bought in through the years with that. When you can combine good defense with good offense, that gives you a really good opportunity to win a championship."
Players Mentioned
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