Summer shines on 7 new Lopes melding into core

Phoenix, AZ June10, 2024 : GCU basketball players were back on the floor Monday for summer practice. David Kadlubowski/GCU

Photo by: David Kadlubowski

6/28/2024 8:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball, Paul Coro

Off 24-8 season, GCU enhances returnees by adding 6 transfers, 1 freshman

By: Paul Coro

After winning 71% of its games under fifth-year head coach Molly Miller, the Grand Canyon women's basketball program remains on the move with summer workouts.

But when the movement and the ball stop, the talk is about what action will create a championship mindset for next season. The GCU returners establish much of that in everything from early arrivals to teammate support, but Miller also has added seven newcomers who fit into the mindset of pursuing the program's first WAC championship this season.

"The first few weeks of summer are a total experiment of personality, skill and how you combine all that to start the process of winning, your new culture and your new identity for the upcoming year," said Miller, whose returnees include All-WAC first-team honoree Tiarra Brown and leading scorer Trinity San Antonio. "This group is fun. They have a lot of personality, but they all really want to win."

Ale'jah Douglas

Senior point guard Ale'jah Douglas is one of six transfer additions for GCU, but Miller has been recruiting her since she was in high school in North Omaha, Nebraska.

"This was a long time coming," said Miller, who recruited her again after junior college and once before in the transfer portal.

The 5-foot-6 playmaker averaged 5.2 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 18 minutes per game for Clemson in 2022-23 but was limited to two appearances last season at Oklahoma State by injury.

"She's getting her rhythm back," Miller said. "For her, it's just about getting reps in. She's a point guard who has some potential to do things at a level that will help us."

Alyssa Durazo-Frescas

GCU landed a premier shooter in junior guard Alyssa Durazo-Frescas, whose 44.4% 3-point shooting ranked seventh in the nation last season.

"Alyssa's going to be a threat, but she's also going to be a perceived threat," Miller said. "So that will open up a lot for us on the court."

Durzao-Frescas made eight 3s in one game last season vs. San Diego as a starter for the 30-3 Mountain West champions, who she gave 7.8 points per game. Miller looks to expand her game, using her threat as a shooter to be a playmaker off fakes and screens.

"She's one of the hardest workers I've ever encountered," Miller said. "It's going to be a treat to watch her. She's a leader. Alyssa just gets it. She understands what a program needs to look like, feel like, sound like in order to win. She understands the sacrifice."

Kaitlyn Elsholz

Kaitlyn Elsholz is one of two Phoenix homecomings among the transfers, having starred at Sandra Day O'Connor High School before playing one season at CSU Northridge.

With three seasons ahead, the 5-foot-11 guard showed promise immediately with 13 starts in 29 appearances and an 8.7 scoring average that included a 22-point game against WAC member Seattle U.

"She's a proven college player," Miler said. "She started for CSUN and did a lot of good things for them. She's not shy to go out there and be herself. She can watch others but also be able to hold her own."

Lucy Ghaifan

Lucy Ghaifan entered the transfer portal late but made for a welcome final roster addition when she committed quickly to Miller and GCU.

The 5-foot-11 post player is efficient on the block, making 72.7% of her shots for Omaha last season in 23 games. In her six starts, she averaged 9.7 points and 4.0 rebounds.

"Lucy is the brightest light," Miller said. "I'm so glad that she's here. She's springy and strong. She shot 73% from the field. She doesn't get sped up. She's very poised and patient down there and that leads to made field goals. When Lucy gets the ball in the post, you always think that she's going to score it."

Bridget Mullings

Bridget Mullings also comes home to Phoenix after the 6-foot-3 post players spent two years at UC San Diego and last season at Utah State.

The Greenway High School graduate brings the experience of 80 career appearances with 24 starts. Last season, she showed a mix of ball skills and strong post play to average 3.9 points and 3.3 rebounds in 10.8 minutes per game for the Aggies.

"She's one of the more skilled posts we have," Miller said. "She can pick and pop, pick and roll and rebound. She's hitting the 3 at an incredible clip. For a 5 to be able to step out and stretch it, that's going to be valuable for our team."

Nneka Obiazor

GCU added a second UNLV guard in graduate transfer Nneka Obiazor, who averaged 8.4 points and 4.4 rebounds in 19.3 minutes per game after returning from a long knee surgery rehabilitation.

Miller, who is from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, said the 5-foot-10 guard projects to play at the level of All-WAC first team.

"Nneka is a force to be reckoned with, and I do not say that lightly," Miller said. "She just works. She can hit an outside shot or she can bully you inside. She is a strong, determined player. Her teammates really like her. Her work ethic is off the charts, and she understands what it takes to win."

Naomi White

Naomi White has not made it easy to tell that she is the lone incoming freshman of the newcomers, having one of the smoothest high school-to-college basketball transitions that Miller has ever seen in her coaching career.

The 5-foot-9 guard from Omaha, Nebraska, was an all-state selection who helped her team become a state runner-up by averaging 18.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.

"Naomi's just confident out there," Miller said. "She worked really hard before she got here, so she doesn't feel like a freshman who's behind. She didn't appear to be overwhelmed by the newness, so that told me she prepared for what it took. She's a good shooter and a strong guard who can get to the rim and finish with contact."