George Washington University Athletics
Women’s Basketball Inks Five During Spring Signing Period
5/10/2024 1:51:00 PM | Women's Basketball
WASHINGTON - The George Washington women's basketball program has announced the addition of five players during the spring signing period. The class includes four transfer students and one international player who will join a group of four that signed to the Buff & Blue last fall. The newest group of Revolutionaries includes Miriam Diala, Maeva Fotsa, Mariona Planes Fortuny, Paige Mott and Makayla Andrews.
"We are very excited about the five additions to our program," said Head Coach Caroline McCombs. "We were seeking scoring, experience and versatility in our recruiting efforts and I believe we were able to find just that! This group is composed of hard-working young women on and off the court, who want an opportunity to shine in the Buff & Blue. We believe they will come in and make an immediate impact for our program."
Miriam Diala | 6'1" | First-Year | Forward | Heidelberg, Germany
Diala, a native of Heidelberg, Germany, arrives in Foggy Bottom after spending a gap year playing club basketball in Europe following the completion of high school in 2023. Diala has gained valuable playing experience though representing Germany in multiple international events such as the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup, the 2022 and 2023 FIBA U18 European Championship, the 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup and the 2021 FIBA U16 European Challengers.
Away from international events, Diala put up solid numbers with her club team, USC Heidelberg. She averaged 12.5 points, nine rebounds, 1.5 steals and shot the ball at 58.3% from the floor. She helped lead her team to a 17-5 overall record and a second-place finish in the south standings. Before getting to GW this summer, Diala will represent Germany at the 2024 FIBA U20 Women's EuroBasket hosted in Lithuania.
Maeva Fotsa | 6'2" | Junior | Forward | South Georgia Tech
Hailing from Quebec, Canada, Fotsa joined South Georgia Tech's women's basketball program prior to the 2022-23 season. In her first year with the Lady Jets, Fotsa appeared in 27 games and played a total of 165 minutes. Fotsa shot the ball at a 37.3% clip and grabbed just under three rebounds per game.
Following her rookie season, Fotsa showed remarkable growth and improvement in nearly every statistical category. She finished ninth in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association in points per game at 12.2, while also using her 6'2" frame to pull down 332 total rebounds on the year. She led the conference in offensive rebounds with 155 and finished second in the league with a monster 10.4 boards per game. Fotsa also finished third in the conference in field goal percentage at 43.8% and led the league in made free throws with 96.
Not only did Fotsa shine during her sophomore season, but she also helped lead her team to a solid season overall. The Lady Jets finished the 2023-24 campaign with a 21-11 overall record, advancing to the GCAA Tournament Semi-Finals. Fotsa's leadership also helped guide the team on a 10-game winning streak that spanned from the end of January through the beginning of March.
Mariona Planes Fortuny | 6'3" | Graduate Transfer | Forward/Center | Bryant University
Planes Fortuny lands at GW after spending the past four seasons at Bryant where she was a consistent presence in the Bulldogs' lineup. Originally from Bellpuig, Spain, Planes Fortuny appeared in 108 total games with Bryant, making 87 starts. She's shown consistent growth during her four years of collegiate basketball, culminating in career-high averages in points, rebounds, assists and field goal percentage during her senior season. Before landing at GW for offseason workouts, Planes Fortuny will compete in an international 3v3 tournament hosted in Europe this summer.
After appearing in 20 games during her rookie year, Planes Fortuny found a consistent place in Bryant's lineup in her sophomore season, starting in 28 out of 29 games and averaging 28 minutes per night. During her breakout sophomore campaign, she tallied 274 points, averaging 9.4 ppg and pulling down 6.2 rpg.
During her junior year, Planes Fortuny continued to build on her phenomenal career, averaging 31.3 minutes per game and starting in all 30 of the team's contests that season. She tallied 15.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.7 blocks per game en route to earning All-America East Second Team honors and being named to the conference's All-Defensive Team. During her junior season, Planes Fortuny also set the Bryant program record for most 20+ points games in a single season with 10 and was second in the conference in scoring.
In her final season with Bryant, Planes Fortuny played and started in 29 games and recorded a career-high 16.3 ppg. She also finished with averages of 6.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and shot 48.7% from the field, all of which were new career-highs. She was ultimately named to the All-America East First Team and finished fourth on the program's all-time scoring list with 1,281 points.
Paige Mott | 6'1" | Graduate Transfer | Forward | Northwestern University
Mott joins the Buff & Blue following four successful years at Northwestern under former GW Head Coach Joe McKeown. Mott played a significant role in the Wildcats' lineup all four years of her career, becoming a regular starter during her junior and senior seasons. Mott hails from Philadelphia, Pa., where she graduated from Abington Friends and led her team to two league championships.
During her rookie season at Northwestern, Mott made an instant impact. She appeared in 25 games, making 16 starts and averaging 16 minutes per night. She shot the ball at 41.4% from the floor and grabbed 3.4 rebounds per game. Mott averaged 3.6 points during her first-year season and also tallied 16 blocks. In her sophomore year, Mott appeared in 28 games and averaged 3.4 points per game.
Mott's play took a big leap into her junior season as she played in 30 total games with 25 starts. She shot the ball at a blistering 52.7% from the floor and averaged a career-high 8.9 points per game. Motts' rebounding numbers also trended up, grabbing a career-best 4.4 per game while dishing out 42 assists. In her senior season, Mott played in 30 games and started in a career-high 27. She tallied 8.0 points a night and pulled down a career-high 4.9 rebounds per game. Mott also dished out 55 assists, averaging 1.8 per game, and recorded 31 blocks.
Makayla Andrews | 5'10" | Graduate Transfer | Guard | Lafayette College
A native of Neptune, N.J., Andrews joins the Revolutionaries after four seasons at Lafayette where she emerged as a leader within the program. Andrews was a key contributor in all four years with Lafayette, earning Third Team All-Patriot League honors following her junior season and Second Team All-Patriot League honors her senior year. Andrews graduated from St. Rose High School where she eclipsed the 1,000-point mark.
In 2020-21 during her rookie season, Andrews appeared in 13 games for the Leopards in a shortened season due to COVID. She put up solid numbers including 4.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg and finished with a 91.7 free throw percentage. In 2021-22 during her first full season, Andrews became a regular in the starting rotation, appearing in all 30 of the team's games and making 28 starts. She averaged 10.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and dished out 26 assists during her sophomore campaign.
As an upperclassman, Andrews shined with the Leopards, putting up a career-best 14.2 points in her junior season. She started in all 29 games that year and recorded a career-high 6.6 rebounds per game to go along with her 28 assists. During her senior season, Andrews once again played in all 30 games and started in 28. She averaged 13.2 ppg and 5.2 rpg. Andrews dished out a career-best 42 assists and eclipsed the 1,000 career point mark on January 24th against Loyola.
"We are very excited about the five additions to our program," said Head Coach Caroline McCombs. "We were seeking scoring, experience and versatility in our recruiting efforts and I believe we were able to find just that! This group is composed of hard-working young women on and off the court, who want an opportunity to shine in the Buff & Blue. We believe they will come in and make an immediate impact for our program."
Miriam Diala | 6'1" | First-Year | Forward | Heidelberg, Germany
Diala, a native of Heidelberg, Germany, arrives in Foggy Bottom after spending a gap year playing club basketball in Europe following the completion of high school in 2023. Diala has gained valuable playing experience though representing Germany in multiple international events such as the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup, the 2022 and 2023 FIBA U18 European Championship, the 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup and the 2021 FIBA U16 European Challengers.
Away from international events, Diala put up solid numbers with her club team, USC Heidelberg. She averaged 12.5 points, nine rebounds, 1.5 steals and shot the ball at 58.3% from the floor. She helped lead her team to a 17-5 overall record and a second-place finish in the south standings. Before getting to GW this summer, Diala will represent Germany at the 2024 FIBA U20 Women's EuroBasket hosted in Lithuania.
Maeva Fotsa | 6'2" | Junior | Forward | South Georgia Tech
Hailing from Quebec, Canada, Fotsa joined South Georgia Tech's women's basketball program prior to the 2022-23 season. In her first year with the Lady Jets, Fotsa appeared in 27 games and played a total of 165 minutes. Fotsa shot the ball at a 37.3% clip and grabbed just under three rebounds per game.
Following her rookie season, Fotsa showed remarkable growth and improvement in nearly every statistical category. She finished ninth in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association in points per game at 12.2, while also using her 6'2" frame to pull down 332 total rebounds on the year. She led the conference in offensive rebounds with 155 and finished second in the league with a monster 10.4 boards per game. Fotsa also finished third in the conference in field goal percentage at 43.8% and led the league in made free throws with 96.
Not only did Fotsa shine during her sophomore season, but she also helped lead her team to a solid season overall. The Lady Jets finished the 2023-24 campaign with a 21-11 overall record, advancing to the GCAA Tournament Semi-Finals. Fotsa's leadership also helped guide the team on a 10-game winning streak that spanned from the end of January through the beginning of March.
Mariona Planes Fortuny | 6'3" | Graduate Transfer | Forward/Center | Bryant University
Planes Fortuny lands at GW after spending the past four seasons at Bryant where she was a consistent presence in the Bulldogs' lineup. Originally from Bellpuig, Spain, Planes Fortuny appeared in 108 total games with Bryant, making 87 starts. She's shown consistent growth during her four years of collegiate basketball, culminating in career-high averages in points, rebounds, assists and field goal percentage during her senior season. Before landing at GW for offseason workouts, Planes Fortuny will compete in an international 3v3 tournament hosted in Europe this summer.
After appearing in 20 games during her rookie year, Planes Fortuny found a consistent place in Bryant's lineup in her sophomore season, starting in 28 out of 29 games and averaging 28 minutes per night. During her breakout sophomore campaign, she tallied 274 points, averaging 9.4 ppg and pulling down 6.2 rpg.
During her junior year, Planes Fortuny continued to build on her phenomenal career, averaging 31.3 minutes per game and starting in all 30 of the team's contests that season. She tallied 15.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.7 blocks per game en route to earning All-America East Second Team honors and being named to the conference's All-Defensive Team. During her junior season, Planes Fortuny also set the Bryant program record for most 20+ points games in a single season with 10 and was second in the conference in scoring.
In her final season with Bryant, Planes Fortuny played and started in 29 games and recorded a career-high 16.3 ppg. She also finished with averages of 6.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and shot 48.7% from the field, all of which were new career-highs. She was ultimately named to the All-America East First Team and finished fourth on the program's all-time scoring list with 1,281 points.
Paige Mott | 6'1" | Graduate Transfer | Forward | Northwestern University
Mott joins the Buff & Blue following four successful years at Northwestern under former GW Head Coach Joe McKeown. Mott played a significant role in the Wildcats' lineup all four years of her career, becoming a regular starter during her junior and senior seasons. Mott hails from Philadelphia, Pa., where she graduated from Abington Friends and led her team to two league championships.
During her rookie season at Northwestern, Mott made an instant impact. She appeared in 25 games, making 16 starts and averaging 16 minutes per night. She shot the ball at 41.4% from the floor and grabbed 3.4 rebounds per game. Mott averaged 3.6 points during her first-year season and also tallied 16 blocks. In her sophomore year, Mott appeared in 28 games and averaged 3.4 points per game.
Mott's play took a big leap into her junior season as she played in 30 total games with 25 starts. She shot the ball at a blistering 52.7% from the floor and averaged a career-high 8.9 points per game. Motts' rebounding numbers also trended up, grabbing a career-best 4.4 per game while dishing out 42 assists. In her senior season, Mott played in 30 games and started in a career-high 27. She tallied 8.0 points a night and pulled down a career-high 4.9 rebounds per game. Mott also dished out 55 assists, averaging 1.8 per game, and recorded 31 blocks.
Makayla Andrews | 5'10" | Graduate Transfer | Guard | Lafayette College
A native of Neptune, N.J., Andrews joins the Revolutionaries after four seasons at Lafayette where she emerged as a leader within the program. Andrews was a key contributor in all four years with Lafayette, earning Third Team All-Patriot League honors following her junior season and Second Team All-Patriot League honors her senior year. Andrews graduated from St. Rose High School where she eclipsed the 1,000-point mark.
In 2020-21 during her rookie season, Andrews appeared in 13 games for the Leopards in a shortened season due to COVID. She put up solid numbers including 4.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg and finished with a 91.7 free throw percentage. In 2021-22 during her first full season, Andrews became a regular in the starting rotation, appearing in all 30 of the team's games and making 28 starts. She averaged 10.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and dished out 26 assists during her sophomore campaign.
As an upperclassman, Andrews shined with the Leopards, putting up a career-best 14.2 points in her junior season. She started in all 29 games that year and recorded a career-high 6.6 rebounds per game to go along with her 28 assists. During her senior season, Andrews once again played in all 30 games and started in 28. She averaged 13.2 ppg and 5.2 rpg. Andrews dished out a career-best 42 assists and eclipsed the 1,000 career point mark on January 24th against Loyola.
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