Time to turn it up for Lady Lopes

Women's hoops to host Grand Canyon Classic

Trent May had a different bounce in his step this week. Sure, his Grand Canyon University women's basketball team had a win tucked away after the season-opening trip to Colorado last weekend. But there was something else, something more noticeable.

"I think it's optimism," May said as he made his way through the Old Gym en route to other parts of the campus Tuesday. "Doing well on the road with a fairly new team. There's just excitement brewing from this last weekend."

Now the excitement spills over into the Thanksgiving Day weekend Grand Canyon Classic, which features 10th-ranked UC San Diego, Western New Mexico University and Fort Lewis College in a two-day matinee event beginning with Friday's 2 p.m. tipoff.

UC San Diego (3-0) plays Western New Mexico (0-3) in the Classic's first game. Grand Canyon (1-1) plays Fort Lewis (2-0) at 4 p.m. in Friday's second game. UCSD will meet FLC at 2 p.m. Saturday, and GCU entertains WNMU at 4 p.m. Saturday. The men's game between Grand Canyon (1-0) and UC San Diego (0-1) will follow at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Last weekend's trip to Pueblo, Colo., opened doors as to the makings of what the Lady Antelopes can be, what with the double figure efforts from Jacque Stevens, Stacy Haddow, Samantha Murphy (pictured), Rosalyn Nelson and Ashley Hardin. And winning in overtime to open the season offered hints on the type of character this team may wear on its sleeve this year.

"You just learn a lot from your first set of games," May said. "We'll correct some things defensively and we'll be fairly sharp. There's just some invaluable lessons you learn in your first game."

May pulled select players into his office to break down film and do a little on-screen studying. He is encompassing this idea of getting everyone to amp up their roles so that not just the level of a few players step up, but the level of the entire squad raises to new heights.

"We have a strong team, but you're only as strong as your weakest link," May said. "You got to bring them up as well and enrich the others and fine-tune the foundation of what we're already doing."

While all of the emphasis is on Fort Lewis Friday, the Antelopes realize there are two games and three teams to evaluate against themselves this weekend. They're just handling it in a step-by-step process.

"The only thing that matters is this Friday," May said. "We're getting our girls into practice today and we're getting them ready for Fort Lewis."

Fort Lewis is riding confidence of its own after beating Eastern New Mexico 78-64 and PacWest member Dixie State 83-56. Buckeye's Erin Kerr had 11 points for FLC in the win over Dixie. Lauren Redfern and Laura Haugen had double figures in the Skyhawks opening-game win.

Western New Mexico's Ashley Vigil had 15 points and Whitney Card (Tucson Sahuaro) had 10 in the Mustangs 61-55 opening loss to Texas A&M International. Whitney Lewis (Marana, Ariz.) had 14 points and Christa Kennedy had 13 in the loss to Wayland Baptist.

UC San Diego's three wins have come over Colorado Christian, No. 22 Augustana and Western Washington. Tritons players Michelle Osier and Meaghan Noud were named to the Tip-Off Classic all-tournament team. Alexis Gaskin also opened the season on a good note.

Grand Canyon and UCSD will meet Dec. 16 in LaJolla, Calif.

"The season's here," May said, "and your juices are flowing."

Grand Canyon Classic

Friday, Nov. 23

2 p.m. -- No. 10 UC San Diego 61, Western New Mexico 42

4 p.m. -- Fort Lewis 80, Grand Canyon 56

Saturday, Nov. 24

2 p.m. -- No. 10 UC San Diego (4-0) vs. Fort Lewis (3-0)

4 p.m. -- Grand Canyon (1-2) vs. Western New Mexico (0-3)

7 p.m. -- (men's game) Grand Canyon (1-0) vs. UC San Diego (0-1)

Grand Canyon University Athletics

Women's hoops to host Grand Canyon Classic

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