Molly Miller was hired to GCU in 2020 after former Coach Nicole Powell left to coach at UC Riverside. Prior to taking the role at GCU, Coach Miller coached at DII Drury University where she was both the winningest player and coach in Drury basketball history. Molly Miller posted a .914 winning percentage as a coach at Drury University in six seasons as the head coach also being named national Coach of the year in 2018 and 2019 at the DII level
Coach Miller took over a less than thrilling team in 2020, as the team was 38-46 in the three seasons leading up to her hire. The season prior to her hire was GCU's best season as they went 16-14 which ended prematurely due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Upon taking the job, Coach Molly Miller had this to say about GCU, "Our goals are going to be big. I’m a very competitive person. We want to cut down nets. Plural. We want to win championships. Plural. It's going to take a lot of hard work. I think we've got a good group. I know we've got great resources and support."
I think it is safe to say that GCU made the right choice with Coach Miller. In her five short seasons with GCU, she has posted a 106-37 record or a .741 winning percentage. In each of the last four seasons, Coach Miller has won at least 20 games each and ever season with this year being the pinnacle. Just 23 games into the season, Miller has 21 wins, Miller also has a strangle hold with a 1.5 game lead over 2nd place and a 3 game lead over 3rd place.
While Coach Miller has played arguably the largest role on the team this season leading her squad to a 21-2 record, the tale cannot be told without speaking volumes to what the seniors on this squad have done for the Coach. Laura Erikstrup, Trinity San Antonio, and Alyssa Durazo-Frescas all lead the team each with 15 points per game this season.
Alyssa Durazo-Frescas transferred from UNLV after her junior season. Averaging 7.8 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.2 assists, Durazo-Frescas launched into space after transferring to Grand Canyon to play for Coach Miller. In just 20 games played this season, Durazo-Frescas improved her stats to 15 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 5.5 assists, improving dramatically in all three statistical categories.
While Durazo-Frescas has made a dramatic difference in what this team looked like compared to last year. Senior Forward Laura Erikstrup can not be dismissed when talking about GCU's success. In her second season at GCU, Erikstrup increased her minutes per game, points per game, and rebounds per game nearly 3x year over year. Averaging 15 points, and 7 rebounds per game this season.
When talking about her seniors, Coach Miller praises the seniors as "what kick-started this launch" and "paved the way" for what this team has done. GCU is currently on a 19-game win streak after starting the season 2-2. In the last three seasons, Coach Miller has gotten to the WAC Semi-Finals each year but has yet to get over the hump and put on her dancing shoes for the Lopes. With wins this season over Arizona St, Liberty, Arizona, NAU in the non-conference, GCU looks poised to make a deep run if they can get over the hump in March.
Molly Miller did lead GCU to their first NIT appearance last season but looks to take the next step and go dancing this season. GCU has three games coming up over the next two weeks against UTA and Tarleton St who are No. 2 and No. 3 in the WAC. If GCU can come into those home games and come out with their win streak in tack, GCU can likely lock up the WAC Regular season Title at home in Mid-Feb.
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