MORAGA, Calif. – Looking to bolster their roster for the 2019-20 season, head coach Paul Thomas has announced the signing of Mia Grizelj and Finau Tonga to the Saint Mary's women's basketball team.
 
Grizelj is a Bay Area native (Sunnyvale, Calif.) and will join the team as a freshman after graduating from St. Francis High School in 2019. Currently in her fourth year of basketball with the Lancers, she averaged 8.0 points per game as a junior, 6.0 rebounds, and was also an all-league honorable mention. Grizelj was recruited by San Diego, Cornell, Portland State, and Southern Utah, but chose Saint Mary's as it was the best basketball and academic fit while also remaining close to her family.
 
"Mia is the type of player that has a very high ceiling," said Thomas. "We look forward to helping her reach her potential."
 
After her time with the Gaels, Mia envisions playing professionally in Europe and eventually becoming a personal trainer for young athletes.
 
Finau Tonga is currently a senior at Taylorsville High School in Utah and was named to the 6A All-State Second Team after her junior year. During that season, she averaged 14.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, and her single game season-high was 29 points. Tonga also impressed her sophomore season, receiving a 5A All-State Honorable Mention. The Utah native also played for the Colorado Premier Club team which is a member of the Nike Girls EYBL. During her time with the club, she proved to be one of the strongest rebounders as she led the league in defensive rebounding percentage. Tonga also comes from a strong college athletics-background as her father (football) and her mother (basketball) both played for the University of Utah while her brother is currently a defensive tackle with the Utes.
 
"Finau will add depth to our inside game," said Thomas. "She is big, strong, physical, and has an incredible feel for how the game should be played." 
 
"Both of these young ladies are not only assets to our women's basketball program, but they will also be valuable members of the Saint Mary's College community."