Nov. 16, 2015 SPOKANE, Wash. -- Gonzaga women's basketball head coach Lisa Fortier announced the signing of Grace Collett and Jessie Loera for the 2016-17 season Monday.
"These two really fit the right needs for our program at this time," Fortier said. "They are competitive young women who want to keep improving and are willing to do what it takes to continue our national success. We are always looking for players who truly fit here at Gonzaga, and we are really excited to welcome them both to Gonzaga."
Grace Collett
Greensborough, Australia | Box Hill Senior Secondary | 6-4 | Post
Collett continues the pipeline success from Australia to Gonzaga. The incoming freshman has enjoyed a standout career so far down under. The 6-4 post has represented Victoria Metro in multiple Australian Junior Championships. She has been on several training squads for Australia's junior national teams as well.
Collett recently tried out for the WNBL's Melbourne Boomers and was selected as a Development Player for the team. She has been training with the main roster through the preseason and appeared in some of Melbourne's preseason games.
"I felt Gonzaga was best fit for me out of all the colleges that I had contact with," Collett said. "After meeting with Coach Fortier I was blown away with what Gonzaga had to offer. I found the basketball program would best suit me in that I would get the most experience, training and knowledge out of the ball game. I also found myself in a trance about what it would be like to attend Gonzaga after many conversations with Assistant Coach Craig Fortier. He was very professional which I found to be part of my decision to commit to Gonzaga."
Collett brings size to the Zags' lineup, along with the ability to move up the floor quickly. She has transitioned her game from a solid inside threat to a mobile post that can play at an elite level. The daughter of Nick and Shelley Collett excelled for her club team, the Diamond Valley Eagles.
"Grace's ability to run the floor really sets her apart from other post players," Head Coach Lisa Fortier said. "She is fast and physical, which fits perfectly with the way we play. I think Grace will thrive in our program with the way we focus on player development, and is going to graduate from Gonzaga as a premiere post player. The family atmosphere that surrounds our program and university has been pivotal in the success we have had with international players and we are looking forward to adding Grace to the family."
Moses Lake, Wash. | Moses Lake HS | 5-6 | Guard
Loera will be a freshman at Gonzaga in 2016-17 after she completes what has been a phenomenal career at Moses Lake High School. The current senior at MLHS dominated the Columbia Basin Big Nine League. Following her junior season, she was named the Columbia Basin Big Nine Player of the Year and co-Defensive Player of the Year.
Loera helped the Chiefs finish fifth in the Class 4A state tournament for the second season in a row, averaging 16.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 4.6 steals per game. For her efforts, she was named state All-Tournament second team, Seattle Times All-State second team and Associated Press All-State honorable mention.
"Jessie is a guard with all the tools. She can shoot it with range, get to the basket, and she has terrific vision," Lisa Fortier said. "She takes pride in her defense and in shutting down whoever she is guarding. She is a kid people love to be around, with infectious energy, discipline, and work ethic. Jessie has been coming to camp since she was in grade school, and we finally get to coach her as one of our own."
After averaging 7.5 points per game her freshman season, Loera scored 12.9 a contest in 2013-14 as a sophomore. Over her three-year career at Moses Lake, she has amassed 872 points, an average of 12.3 per game. The daughter of Javier and Lori Loera has career averages of 5.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 3.9 steals per outing. Loera picked GU over Washington State, Washington, Vanderbilt and Army West Point.
"I chose Gonzaga because I loved the basketball environment, the campus and the location," Loera said.
The list of accolades is long for Loera. She was the conference's Defensive Player of the Year in 2013 and 2014, along with Player of the Year on offense in 2014. She was also selected to the All-State Tournament team in 2014. As a member of the Spokane Stars club team, Loera was named the tournament MVP at the prestigious End of the Oregon Trail Tournament.
Loera boasts a 3.6 GPA in the classroom. She has been named a Distinguished Scholar, is on the school's Honor Roll, and was a member of National Honor Society in 2012-13 and 2013-14. She also has been a standout on the Chiefs' soccer team, being named First Team All-Conference on defense in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
