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Women's Basketball Announces Three Additions in Early Signing Period

Nov 12, 2021

PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State women's basketball head coach Kamie Ethridge announced her first two signees for the 2022 signing class as Kyra Gardner and Lauren Glazier have each inked a National Letter of Intent to play for the Cougs next season. Furthermore, Ethridge announced the addition of guard Kaia Woods, who will be eligible to play at the end of the fall semester.

Ethridge locked in a pair Evergreen State talents during the first week of the early signing period. Gardner is a 5-10 guard from Raymond, Washington and Glazier is a 6-4 forward from North Bend, Washington. Meanwhile, Woods is a 5-3 point guard from Tiffin, Ohio, who reclassified to the 2021 class over the summer. She will be able to play for the Cougars this season at the conclusion of the fall semester at WSU as an early enrollee.

"I am excited to announce the signing of two local players in our 2022 class, in addition to a guard from Ohio that will be joining us in December," expressed Ethridge. "Kyra and Lauren are exceptional student-athletes who are passionate about being Cougs in their home state. Kaia is going to be a game-changing point guard.  She is a jet up-and-down the court. They all bring skills and talents that are different than what we have in our program."

Kyra Gardner | 5-10 | G | Raymond, Wash. (Raymond HS)
Gardner has been triple-double machine at Raymond High School, as she has averaged 21.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.1 steals per game during her prep career for the Seagulls. She heads into her senior season having already scored 1,265 points. Gardner was named Washington's 2020-21 All-State team by the Associated Press and is a two-time Pacific League MVP. The 5-10 guard has scored as many as 38 points in a game and is a two-time WIAA Player of the Week. An excellent athlete, Gardner was also Washington's 2B high jump state champion in 2021 and was named the Pacific League MVP in volleyball this past fall.

Coach Ethridge on Gardner: "Kyra is a great athlete. She is an explosive and versatile guard that belongs in the Pac-12. We see Kyra not only fitting into our system but flourishing in it. Her ability to shoot the 3 sets up what she does best, which is drive to the rim and create plays. Kyra has instinctive and special passing abilities. She is the combo-guard of our future. A player that is only beginning to scratch the surface of her potential. We believe she will develop into one of the best guards in the Pac-12."

Lauren Glazier | 6-4 | F/C | North Bend, Wash. (Mount Si HS)
Glazier is heading into her senior season at Mount Si High School in Snoqualmie, Washington. The forward was only limited to two games during her junior season due to COVID-19. During her last full season as a sophomore, Glazier led Mount Si in scoring 13.0 points per game. while adding 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game to her ledger. The 6-4 post player shot 37 percent from the field in 24 games as a sophomore, while hitting 16 shots from behind the arc. She scored a career-high 28 points during her sophomore season in a win over Bothell and she has collected two double-doubles in her prep career.

Coach Ethridge on Glazier: "Lauren Glazier can shoot the ball. We believe Lauren has a chance to be a great-shooting post player. In our system, we love playing versatile players that can shoot from 3 but can also post up smaller defenders. We envision moving Lauren all over the floor to allow her to play to her offensive strengths. We are excited to work to develop Lauren's fitness, strength and physicality. Lauren's commitment and discipline to work at her game is one of the many reasons we wanted her to be a Coug."

Kaia Woods | 5-3 | G | Tiffin, Ohio (Royal Crown Academy)
Woods comes to the Palouse after establishing herself as one of the top high school players in Northwest Ohio. Woods averaged 20.2 points, 7.6 steals and 5.6 assists per game during her prep career, which was split between Tiffin Columbian High School and Hopewell-Loudon High School. She was a 1,000-point scorer and was a two-time All-Sandusky Bay Conference selection.In her junior season at Hopewell-Loudon, Woods was a unanimous first-team River Division selection and was named her league's co-player of the year. As a sophomore, Woods was a first-team Lake Division pick while playing for Tiffin Columbian. Wood had enrolled into Royal Crown Academy, a prep school in Toronto, Ontario that consists of top-level basketball talent from all over the world, prior to her senior season. However, Royal Crown had to cancel its season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led her to reclassify to the class of 2021.

Coach Ethridge on Woods: "Kaia Woods is an additional 2021 signee, who will be eligible at the end of our current semester. As a smaller point guard, she impacts the game by her speed, relentless defense, toughness, passing abilities and an elite-level competitiveness and mindset. It is exciting to add an attacking dimension to our current guard game. Kaia will be a dynamic pick-and-roll player that will create new and different scoring opportunities for our team. Kaia's maturity, IQ, and grit make her a perfect completion to this 2021-22 team. I am thrilled she will be joining us in a few short weeks."

Washington State continues the 2021-22 season this Friday, Nov. 12, when the Cougars host Northern Arizona. Tip-off from Beasley Coliseum is set for 12 p.m. PT.

For more information on the Washington State women's basketball team, follow @WSUCougarWBB on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.