Women's Basketball Opens Season Against Hawai'i

Grand Canyon (0-0, WAC) vs. Hawai'i (0-0, Big West)
Date: Friday, Nov. 13
Time: 2 p.m. (MST)
Location: Phoenix, Ariz. – GCU Arena
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PHOENIX – The 2015-16 season has finally arrived for the Grand Canyon women's basketball team as the Antelopes look to improve off a 13-win season in 2014-15. To open the season, the Lopes will welcome Hawai'i to town, kicking off a GCU basketball doubleheader at GCU Arena.

The Lopes return four of the five top scorers from last season including the top-two returners Jessica Gajewski (10.6 ppg) and August Touchard (10.1 ppg). GCU returns as the top team in scoring defense allowing 58.7 points per game. The Lopes were picked to finish in fifth place in the Western Athletic Conference this season after finishing in fourth last season. The Lopes did receive preseason recognition as Touchard was selected to the Coaches' Preseason All-WAC Second Team and Courtney Hayes was named to the College Sports Madness Preseason All-WAC Second Team. Friday's matchup against Hawai'I will be the first of 15 games at home that head coach Trent May and the Lopes will play at GCU Arena.

All-Time Series Record
The Lopes will face Hawai'i for the second time in school history. In a matchup at GCU Arena, Grand Canyon defeated Hawai'i 54-51.

Head Coach Trent May Quote of the Week
"It's an exciting time to kick off the season and we really want to enjoy the process because it is such a long year. Our women are hungry and eager to get the season started so we are just looking to come out focused and ready to put on a show in front of our fans."

Scouting Hawai'i
Hawai'i goes into the season with high expectations as the team was picked to finish in first place in the Big West. Head coach Laura Beeman returns as the 2015 Big West Coach of the Year after three straight WNIT post-season appearances. The Rainbow Wahine are the defending Big West regular season champions and return nine letterwinners with Ashleigh Karaitiana named to the preseason all-conference team. Last season, Karaitiana averaged 10 points per game along with five rebounds per contest. While starting 30 of Hawai'i's 31 games last season. Last season, the Rainbow Wahine finished with a 23-9 record, including a 9-4 record away from home.

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Players Mentioned

Jessica Gajewski

Courtney Hayes

August Touchard

Grand Canyon University Athletics