LMU Women’s Basketball Team welcomes three talented recruits

LOS ANGELES — The LMU women’s basketball team has signed three new recruits to its program for the 2023-2024 season. Sydney Gandy, Cynthia Ezeja and Soufia Inoussa will soon be part of the Lion Family as they strive for a winning season.

Gandy is a 5-5 senior transfer from the University of Idaho. While playing for the Vandals, Gandy appeared in 86 games and started in 77. In her junior year, she averaged 9.8 points per game and finished with 293 points for the season. She also placed fifth in the Big Sky with 64 3-pointers and 8^ein school history with 183 three-point field goals. Gandy is from Long Beach, CA and graduated from Orangewood Academy in 2020. Before playing in her senior year at Orangewood Academy, Gandy played three varsity seasons at Los Alamitos High School. “Sydney was a top priority for us in the portal. Her smart IQ, her ability to stretch the floor and distribute the ball will take her teammates and our program as a whole to the next level,” says Head Coach Aika Hughes. “She makes everyone around her better. Syd’s tenacity, gym rat DNA and relentless spirit will take our culture to new heights. We can’t wait to have her on The Bluff”

Ezeja comes to the Lions as a transfer from the University of Pittsburgh. Ezeja is a 6-2 striker from Nigeria but moved to Greece as a child where she graduated from 20^eAthens High School. With Pitt, she played in 48 games and averaged 12.1 minutes per game. Defensively, Ezeja scored a total of 211 rebounds and 42 blocks. In her 2021-2022 season, Ezeja finished third on the team with 17 blocks. Back in high school, Ezeja helped lead her team to a second-place finish in the national championships. She also played in five matches for Greece at the 2019 FIBA ​​U18 Women’s European Championships. “Cynthia is a huge win for us. Her ACC experience, toughness and skills will take us to the next level on both sides,” says Hughes . “C brings us an inside presence. Her ability to block shots and ability to score internally will change our program. There is no doubt she will have an immediate impact on the pitch for us this season. Her character, ambition and vision represent LMU women’s basketball to the fullest. She is a true class act and we are very fortunate to have her join the Lion Family.”

Joining Gandy and Ezeja is 5-7 guard from Stockholm, Sweden, Inoussa. Inoussa is a transfer senior from New Mexico State University. During her freshman year in New Mexico State, she starts in all 30 games and was named to the WAC all Newcomer Team. During her sophomore season, Inoussa averaged 10.9 points per game and led the Aggies in 4.6 rebounds per game. Inoussa also had 10 double digit games. Last season, Inoussa averaged 30 minutes per game, dished out 59 assists, had 116 rebounds and totaled 239 points, an average of 7.2 per game. Prior to college basketball, Inoussa competed for KFUM Blackeberg in Sweden, helping them to a regional championship and a third-place finish. “I’m so excited to add Soufia to our family. Her motor IQ and her ability to play on both sides of the ball will make us all better,” says Hughes. “Her international and collegiate experience, defensive tenacity and offensive poise make her a player of immediate impact for us. Soufia’s competitive spirit, compassion for others and professionalism will positively impact our culture. We can’t wait to have her here and get to work.”

Next season will be an exciting year for the LMU women’s basketball team with these three signings. The schedule and ticket information for the 2023-24 season will be released on a later day.

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