FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (April 20, 2023) – Northern Arizona University women's basketball head coach
Loree Payne has announced the addition of Grace Beasley to the 2023-24 roster. Beasley is a 5-7 guard from Melbourne, Australia, who transfers into the program from Montana State.
Beasley played in 30 games with one start for the Bobcats last season, averaging 7.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. She helped guide MSU to a 20-11 overall record and a 13-5 conference record as the Bobcats shared the regular season title with NAU and Sacramento State. She shot 43.8 percent (77-176) from the field and made 17 three-pointers. At the free throw line, she made 44-of-54 for a clip of 81.5 percent. Beasley was second on the team with 1.2 steals per game and second with 2.0 assists per game.
She scored in double figures in 10 contests, including a career-high 17 points against Providence (MT) where she was 7-of-9 from the field with five assists. Against eventual National Champions LSU, Beasley poured on 15 points to go with four rebounds, three assists, and two steals. She averaged 18.2 minutes per game with 215 total points and 102 total rebounds.
Beasley joined the Bobcats in the middle of the 2021-22 season after transferring in from Washington following a coaching change. At Washington, she sat out due to injury after transferring in from Midland College, a junior college in Texas. During her lone season at UW, she made the Dean's list and was named Student-Athlete of the Quarter.
At Midland College, Beasley was a two-time All-Western Junior Athletic Conference (WJAC) selection. She started 59 games over two seasons, averaging 11.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. Her sophomore year saw her score in double figures 17 times with a career-high 21 points on two occasions while earning four double-doubles.
As a freshman, Beasley finished one vote shy of the WJAC Freshman of the Year award. She led Midland with 11.5 points per game and earned Player of the Week honors twice. Beasley also posted a triple-double of 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 93-60 victory over Frank Phillips.
Beasley prepped at Caulfield Grammar School in Melbourne, leading the team to consecutive championships in 2016 and 2017. She earned All-Star Five in the Victorian Youth Championship Women's League and the Waverly Falcons Youth League MVP the same year.
She is set to earn her Bachelor's degree in sociology from MSU in May and will have one year of eligibility with the Lumberjacks.
