LOS ANGELES – The Loyola Marymount University women's basketball team will add three outstanding athletes to its roster, as the team will add two transfers, while also adding an incoming freshman, announced by head coach Charity Elliott on Wednesday. 
 
Eliza Joynes signed her National Letter of Intent on Wednesday and comes to LMU from South Australia, where she has a decorated high school career, playing forward and center. Joynes led the Forestville Eagles Basketball Club to several undefeated seasons, leading her team to a medal at the National Junior Classic every year.
 
In 2018, Joynes led the North Adelaide Premier to win the National Schools Basketball Championship, where she was the championship leading rebounder, averaging 15.8 and led in blocks, averaging 2.8. The 6-5, Adelaide native represented South Australia in the U/18 East Coast Challenge Tournament in 2017-18 and led her team to a silver medal in 2017. 
 
"We are so excited to welcome Eliza and her parents to the Lion family," said Elliott. "She is a very skilled post player who can play back to the basket or step out and knock shots down and she will be a tremendous rim protector as well.  She has unbelievable potential and with her commitment and work ethic, I have no doubt she's going to have a fantastic career as a Lion."
 
"The drive of the coaching staff and the team is so exciting and the feeling that it is all about the whole person made me want to be a Lion," said Joynes. 
 
Ariel Johnson comes to LMU as a transfer from University of Florida, where she was one of only four players to appear in all 31 games as a freshman, and also played in every game as a sophomore.  
 
The Tracy, Calif. native comes back to her home state after knocking down 38 three-pointers her freshman season, the sixth most by a rookie in program history. The 5-9 guard averaged 6.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game her sophomore season, while finishing in double-digits in five straight games. 
 
Johnson graduated high school from St. Mary's High School in Stockton, Calif., where she averaged 14.1 points her senior season and was First Team All-Area and was tabbed a four-star recruit. 
 
"Ari is going to make an immediate impact on our program," said Elliott. "She is a lightning quick guard who can score in a multitude of ways or find an open teammate, plus, she brings a tenacious mindset on the defensive end.  We've known Ari for a long time and there's not a harder worker or a better teammate out there. Her presence will be felt both on the court and in the locker-room. "Her two years of experience in the SEC has prepared her to be a difference maker here at LMU."
 
"I chose LMU because I loved the coaches and the environment that they created," said Johnson. "The system that Coach Elliott and her staff run compliments my playing style. 
With an interest in film studies, attending one of the top film schools in the country is also a plus!"
 
Cassandra Gordon makes her way back home to California, transferring to LMU from Georgetown. The Santa Barbara native appeared in 28 games her freshman and sophomore seasons and averaged 3.4 points and 1.8 rebounds per game her sophomore season. Gordon scored eight points in the WNIT over Sacred Heart and four rebounds against Harvard her freshman year. 
 
A graduate of Santa Barbara High School, Gordon was a four-year starter and team captain. The guard earned three varsity letters and was named team MVP. 
 
"Cassie comes to us after gaining two years of tremendous at Georgetown…she is a phenomenal athlete who fits perfectly into our style of play.  She's long, bouncy and has a super quick first step…and is just scratching the surface of her talents.  Like Ari, we've known Cassie for a long time and I'm just thrilled to get her back home and to watch her thrive in our program." 
 
"I chose LMU because I wanted to come back home to California, love the coaching staff and the education is great," said Gordon. 
 
Joynes, Johnson and Gordon will join a versatile roster, as the Lions will return 11 players. 
 
"I couldn't be happier with these three signees," said Elliott. "They each add such talent, work ethic and a championship mindset to help elevate LMU Women's Basketball to where we want to go.  Not only are they great players, but as people, they are first class.  I want to congratulate our staff on doing such a great job during these challenging and uncertain times by bringing in three impact players."