Coming off a successful first season as the women's basketball head coach at Eastern Illinois, Marqus McGlothan has gone big in the transfer portal with his first true recruiting class with three of the incoming players listed at 6'0", 6'4" and 6'9 as EIU announced four transfers to the program.
 
Set to play for EIU next season are guard Clara Glad, center Meioshe Mason, guard Ava Stoller and center Abbie Boutilier.
 
"I'm looking forward to June and having everyone on campus together. My staff has done a phenomenal job of navigating the transfer portal and landing some big recruits," said McGlothan.   "Our players did a great job hosting and showing our recruits what it means to be a Panther. This recruiting class adds length, versatility, depth, leadership, and NCAA Tournament experience to our team! I can't wait to get in the gym and start working with all of them. Not only are these young women gifted basketball players, but they are also good people who fit our family culture well."
 
Glad (6'0", G, Rogers, Minn.) is a transfer from UC Davis where she played for the Aggies program the last two seasons. This past year she played in 32 of 33 games as UC Davis lost in the Big West Tournament Championship game finishing the year with 21 wins.  She scored a season high 13 points during the year against Cal Maritime.  She appeared in 21 games at UC Davis two years ago.  She was a three-time All-Conference selection at Rogers High School averaging in doubles figures her junior and senior years.
 
"Clara brings length to our guard position. She will be a solid defender in our league. She has a high IQ, cuts and moves well without the ball. I coached Clara when she was 16, so I'm excited to have the opportunity to coach her again," added McGlothan.
 
Mason (6'4", C, Lebanon, Tenn.) is a transfer from Middle Tennessee where she played two seasons for the Blue Raiders program.  This past season MTSU won 26 games and playing in the WBIT post-season event.  She averaged 1.4 points and 1.2 rebounds per game this past season.   Mason redshirted her first season (2022-23) at MTSU.  She was an All-District performer in high school at Lebanon High School averaging 11 points and 8 rebounds per game.
 
"Meioshe brings size and physicality to our team. She's a player we could have utilized last year to play with Macy McGlone," McGlothan said.  "She has good touch around the basket and she uses her strength to seal and pin defenders easily. She will be a phenomenal asset for our team."
 
Stoller (5'6", G, St. Petersburg, Fla.) is a transfer from OVC member SIUE.  She averaged 9.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists as a freshman for the Cougars and last season posted season numbers of 6.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.  As a prep player she averaged 25.5 points per game at St. Petersburg High School finishing her high school career with 1,451 career points. 
 
"Ava is familiar with our league, so her experience in our conference will help. She is a crafty point guard with exceptional ball handling ability. She scored 12 points on us in our last game vs SIUE, and we were a difficult team to score on. With Kiyley Flowers graduating, she will bring leadership and depth in the point guard position," said McGlothan.
 
Boutilier (6'9", C, Flower Mound, Texas) is a transfer from the University of Texas where she was a member of the Longhorns program the last two seasons.  Boutilier sat out the last two seasons due to injury at Texas but was part of this year's team that won 35 games advancing to the NCAA Final Four.  Playing at Flower Mound HS she was rated the No. 2 prospect in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metro Area earning All-District honors as a senior.  She shot 57 percent from the floor as a senior after a 54 percent shooting clip during her junior season.
 
"Abbie has phenomenal size and good hands. Her defensive presence as a rim protector should be an elite asset for us," said McGlothan.  "She has incredible upside, soft touch and does a great job of keeping the ball high. I'm excited to get her on campus and start working with her."
 
The four players join incoming freshman Liana Buckhalton (6'0", Wing, Stillwater, Minn.) who signed with the Panthers in the November signing period.