CHENEY, Wash. – Eastern Washington University women's basketball coach Wendy Schuller announced her first three signees of the 2017-18 signing class on Wednesday (Nov. 8). Bella Cravens, Grace Kirscher and Milly Knowles each signed their National Letter of Intent and will be set to join the Eagles as true freshmen next season.

"These three young women represent everything that Eagle women's basketball is about. They are competitors, have a tremendous work ethic, and most importantly have great character and academic prowess," said head coach Wendy Schuller. "They all come from wonderful families and I honestly can't wait to coach them."

Bella Cravens | 6-3 | C | Laie, Hawaii
 
Cravens is a 6-3 post player that comes to Eastern from Laie, Hawaii. She is fresh off a runner-up finish at the 2016-17 State Championship and also placed second during the 2015-16 season. A member of the Maryknoll High School varsity team throughout high school, Cravens has earned three letters heading into her senior year. During the 2016-17 season, she was tabbed All-Interscholastic League of Honolulu (ILH) first-team and was named to the All-State first team, as well as All-State Defense Team.
 
Cravens led her squad to back-to-back ILH Championships during the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons. Cravens was also a three-year letterwinner on the Maryknoll varsity volleyball team as well.
 
The daughter of Sharlene and Mark Cravens, she plans on majoring in psychology with aspirations of becoming a sports psychologist.

Schuller Says: "Bella has a bright future in front of her and I am so glad she will be doing it as an Eagle. She is an excellent athlete and will bring a paint presence with her shot blocking and rebounding. Bella is someone who brings it day in and day out and I think will develop into a great scorer for us. She is a tremendous competitor and comes from top notch programs at Maryknoll High School and the Islanderz Basketball Club, she really knows how to win."
 
Grace Kirscher | 6-0 | G | Sandpoint, Idaho
 
Kirscher is a 6-0 guard out of Sandpoint, Idaho, and lettered in both volleyball and basketball all four years. She accumulated several accolades during the 2017 season, including being named to the Idaho Statesman's 4A All-Idaho State First Team, an improvement for being tabbed second team during the 2016 season. Kirscher was also chosen as the 4A Inland Empire League Most Valuable Player in 2017 in addition to being voted MVP and Most Inspirational Player by her coaches and teammates at Sandpoint High School.
 
Following a third-place finish at the 2015 4A State Tournament her freshman season, Kirscher averaged 13 points, three rebounds, two steals and two assists per game as a sophomore to lead her team to another third-place finish in 2016. As a junior, Kirscher averaged 16.1 points per game to go along with five boards per contest. She also tacked on 3.4 steals and assists per game and helped her team quality for the state tournament again in 2017. She was named All-State following the 2017 campaign.
 
Kirscher was a Female Basketball Player of the Year and a Female Athlete of the Year nominee by the North Idaho Sports Hall of Fame in 2016 and 2017. Off the court, she's earned an Outstanding Individual Scholastic Award for GPA for three straight years.
The daughter of Pam Miller and Keith Kirscher, she plans on majoring in elementary education with a minor of business.

Schuller Says: "Grace's addition to this class has really made it a great one. She can play anywhere on the floor and has really nice size for a guard. Physically, I think she will be able to step in right away and compete at the DI level. She is a super scorer and plays extremely hard. I love her range on the perimeter but most importantly I love her competitive nature and who she is as a young lady. She comes from outstanding coaching at Sandpoint HS and at the club level with the Sandpiper program. Those experiences have prepared her to be a really good one at the next level."

Milly Knowles | 6-1 | PF | Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England
 
Knowles hails from Cumbria, England and is a 6-0 power forward. After winning a regional championship at the U-13 and U-15 levels, she was an England National team selection at the U-15, 16 and 18 levels.
 
Knowles will bring plenty of international experience to Eastern, as she played in the Division A European Championship at the U-16 level in addition to being tabbed a Great Britain U-18 Selection in the summer of 2017. Also in 2017, she was named the Women's Elite Academy Basketball League North Defensive Player of the Year and earned Most Valuable Player of the England Schools. In addition to winning an England School Championship in 2017, she led her team to a U-18 National League Northern Championship.
 
Knowles is coached by former Eagle great Julie Page who played basketball for EWU under Schuller from 2004-06. Page was named Big Sky Newcomer of the Year in 2004 and earned an All-Big Sky nod in 2006.
 
Knowles earned the Will Wilson Award for outstanding sports person and the Joe Harrison award for sporting excellence in 2016. She chose to come to Eastern Washington because it, "has everything I'm looking for both academically and in basketball. From the initial contact and conversation, the coaching staff and players have made me feel very welcome."
 
The daughter of David and Amanda Knowles, she plans on majoring in athletic training with aspirations of becoming a physiotherapist.

Schuller Says: "I am so excited about Milly travelling across the pond to be an Eagle. She played for Olympian and Eagle alum, Julie Page at Myerscough College in England. Milly has been extremely well coached since Julie did learn from the best. Milly gives us an inside-outside presence and really has a game reminiscent of Julie's. Her international experience will really work in her favor to help her make big contributions to our team early."