SUU Women’s Basketball Signs Two Transfers

CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Southern Utah Women's Basketball team received reinforcements in the form of two transfers this week. The Thunderbirds added Lexi Bull, who is transferring from Tarleton State, and Sydney Gandy, who will come to Cedar City from Loyola Marymount.

Head Coach Tracy Mason Said

"Lexi is physical, tough, and a terrific rebounder. She can play a multitude of positions for us on the court. I'm really excited about the competitive energy she brings, and I'm looking forward to seeing her in different lineups."

"Sydney is a big piece of the puzzle for us. She is a strong leader with great experience. She has already been very successful, and I know she will do big things here at SUU, too. Syd is a fierce competitor with big-time energy."

A Little About Lexi

During her 2023-24 season with the Tarleton State Texans, Lexi Bull played in 28 games, averaging over 15 minutes per game. Lexi shot 43.3% from the field, with a 33.3% success rate from beyond the arc.

Lexi was active on the boards, pulling down a total of 132 rebounds, and averaging 4.7 rebounds per game. She had 29 assists and contributed 21 steals and 14 blocks over the season.

Lexi previously played for the University of Wyoming. During her three seasons in Laramie, she participated in 22 games, scoring eight points, grabbing 18 rebounds, and dishing out six assists over a total of 59 minutes. Notably, in her freshman year, she contributed to Wyoming's Mountain West championship victory and their NCAA Tournament run.

Lexi had an impressive athletic career at Century High School in Pocatello, Idaho. She was twice named All-State, three times All-Region, and three times All-Conference in basketball, where she averaged 18.8 points, 13.2 rebounds, 3.9 blocks, 3.4 steals, and 3.1 assists per game during her senior year. She was the state tournament MVP as a junior, leading her team to a perfect 27-0 season and a state title. Lexi was also named to the All-Idaho Team by USA Today that year. Her high school team won multiple district championships and had strong state finishes, including a state title in 2019.

In addition to basketball, Lexi excelled in volleyball, earning All-Conference and All-State honors as a junior and senior. Her volleyball team won the state championship in 2018 and district titles in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Academically, Lexi was recognized for her achievements, being named a Mountain West Scholar-Athlete and making the Mountain West All-Academic Team in 2021. She was part of academic state champion teams in both basketball and volleyball during her high school years.

Some Information on Sydney

Sydney Gandy is an experienced basketball player who is transferring to Southern Utah University from Loyola Marymount University. Her tenure at LMU during the 2023-24 season saw her starting all 25 games she played, averaging 28.4 minutes per game. Although her field goal percentage was 20.3% and her three-point percentage was 20.2%, she demonstrated strong free-throw shooting at 78.6%. She contributed an average of 4.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game, along with notable defensive efforts, including ten steals and three blocks.

Before LMU, Gandy had a noteworthy career at the University of Idaho. In the 2022-23 season, she started 28 of 30 games, averaging 32.9 minutes and 9.8 points per game. She also amassed 88 rebounds, 106 assists, 24 steals, and one block while shooting 31.7% from the floor and 32.4% from three-point range. Her ability to score double figures in 13 games and her strong assist/turnover ratio of 1.87 highlighted her effectiveness on the court. Gandy was also ranked 4th in the Big Sky for assist/turnover ratio and 2nd for three-point attempts.

In the 2021-22 season, Gandy started 30 games, averaging 11.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. She led the conference in three-point attempts and makes, showcasing her long-range shooting skills. During her freshman year in 2020-21, she played 24 games with 19 starts, averaging 10.5 points and 1.9 rebounds per game, and earned Big Sky All-Tournament honors.

Gandy graduated from Orangewood Academy in 2020, after playing three varsity seasons at Los Alamitos High School. Her high school career was decorated with multiple accolades, including Sunset League MVP, CIF Division 2AA Player of the Year, and San Joaquin League MVP.

These experienced players will help bolster the Southern Utah roster in the 2024-25 season.

Courtesy: suutbirds.com