Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus Fresno State on January 10, 2026 , Win , 71, to, 64
W Basketball
vs Fresno State
W 71-64
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Saturday, November 9
GCU Arena
2 p.m.
Grand Canyon
vs
Western State
Junior guard Kaitlyn Petersen had a team-high 17 points in the exhibition opener against ENMU last week.
Photo by: Darryl Webb
PREVIEW: Women's Basketball
11/8/2013 4:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Antelopes Open at Home Saturday With Western State
When coach Trent May talks about the 2013-14 Grand Canyon University women's basketball season some form of the word excite is commonly used.
After building one of the top NCAA Division II programs in the country, May's Antelopes embark on their first year in the Western Athletic Conference and Division I.
"It's an extremely exciting time for the university, our program, for the players and the staff," said May, who has led the program to three straight 20-win seasons, four NCAA tournament berths in the last five years and a winning record in each of his six seasons as head coach.
"Whenever you have a chance to play and compete at the highest level you can't help but be excited," added the coach. "The differences, so far, haven't been overly challenging. We know the challenges are going to come when we're playing against established D-I programs and we're really looking forward to playing those teams."
GCU is 76-16 over the last three seasons and return a number of players that have been a part of at least one, if not more, of those years.
Heading a group that includes eight seniors is guard/forward Judy Jones, the lone Antelope to receive preseason WAC recognition. Jones was selected to the first team by the media and second team by the coaches. She's coming off an All-American season at the D-II level that also saw her take the Pacific West Conference's top honor for both women's basketball and female student-athlete. She averaged 16.2 points and 10.3 rebounds last year. Prior to coming to GCU, Jones played two seasons at Texas-San Antonio.
Seven players, including five that started at least one game, are back from last year's 23-9 NCAA West Region semifinals team. Two newcomers expected to jump right in the mix are junior guard Kaitlyn Petersen and senior forward Johnna Brown. Petersen practiced with the club last year, but had to sit out due to transfer rules. She led the team with 17 points in a 65-44 exhibition win over Eastern New Mexico last week. Brown, a transfer from GCU's Division II rival Dixie State, had 10 points and 16 rebounds in the win. She had comparable numbers to Jones for the Red Storm, averaging 16.6 points and 11.7 rebounds, in 2012-13.
Next to Jones, senior guard Justine Johnson had the most starts last season (27 of 32 games). Johnson, who played two seasons at Division I Weber State before coming to GCU, was third on the team at 28.6 minutes per game and averaged 5.4 points and 2.5 assists. Senior forward Deanna Daniels, who played one season at Dixie State with Brown and won a Nevada state title with Brown and GCU guard Courtney Hayes (who will sit out this season after transferring from Louisiana Tech), averaged 7.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in 31 games, starting 17.
Also back with ample experience is 6-4 senior center Asha McDonnell, who led GCU with a .565 field goal percentage and 36 blocked shots. Senior guard/forward Jenna Pearson has been a part of more wins than any current player. The only fourth-year senior of the group, she averaged 3.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and had 11 3-pointers. Two other seniors, center Jasmine Grayson (Cal State Fullerton) and guard Erica Paskell (Texas-Arlington) are in their second seasons at GCU after transferring from Division I programs. Grayson averaged 9.2 minutes and played in 29 games. Paskell averaged 3.6 points, hit 23 3-pointers and averaged 10.8 minutes in 30 contests.
"It's good to start the transition with experienced players," said May. "We're returning experienced players who have also won at this level and also played Division I basketball."
While there are plenty of veterans, May believes Petersen and Brown won't be the only newcomers to contribute. Freshmen August Touchard and Astrea Reed and sophomore Madison Craig will add strength to the backcourt, while Tori Morris is a frosh post working hard to get playing time.
"We've created a culture here to win," said May. "There are challenges, in that it's not an easy process, but the DNA of this program the last seven years has been winning. This would be harder if we hadn't already known how to be successful.
"I've been very blessed to have a staff (associate head coach Cory Cole and assistant coaches Erin Scholz and Milee Karre) that I get to work with day in and day out. Going through a new phase with them, I couldn't be more pleased with the staff and the direction."
GCU opens the regular season Saturday with a 2 p.m. contest at GCU Arena against Western State.
Links to live stats, video and audio and ticket information throughout the season will be available on the team's schedule page.
2013-14 Schedule
After building one of the top NCAA Division II programs in the country, May's Antelopes embark on their first year in the Western Athletic Conference and Division I.
"It's an extremely exciting time for the university, our program, for the players and the staff," said May, who has led the program to three straight 20-win seasons, four NCAA tournament berths in the last five years and a winning record in each of his six seasons as head coach.
"Whenever you have a chance to play and compete at the highest level you can't help but be excited," added the coach. "The differences, so far, haven't been overly challenging. We know the challenges are going to come when we're playing against established D-I programs and we're really looking forward to playing those teams."
GCU is 76-16 over the last three seasons and return a number of players that have been a part of at least one, if not more, of those years.
Heading a group that includes eight seniors is guard/forward Judy Jones, the lone Antelope to receive preseason WAC recognition. Jones was selected to the first team by the media and second team by the coaches. She's coming off an All-American season at the D-II level that also saw her take the Pacific West Conference's top honor for both women's basketball and female student-athlete. She averaged 16.2 points and 10.3 rebounds last year. Prior to coming to GCU, Jones played two seasons at Texas-San Antonio.
Seven players, including five that started at least one game, are back from last year's 23-9 NCAA West Region semifinals team. Two newcomers expected to jump right in the mix are junior guard Kaitlyn Petersen and senior forward Johnna Brown. Petersen practiced with the club last year, but had to sit out due to transfer rules. She led the team with 17 points in a 65-44 exhibition win over Eastern New Mexico last week. Brown, a transfer from GCU's Division II rival Dixie State, had 10 points and 16 rebounds in the win. She had comparable numbers to Jones for the Red Storm, averaging 16.6 points and 11.7 rebounds, in 2012-13.
Next to Jones, senior guard Justine Johnson had the most starts last season (27 of 32 games). Johnson, who played two seasons at Division I Weber State before coming to GCU, was third on the team at 28.6 minutes per game and averaged 5.4 points and 2.5 assists. Senior forward Deanna Daniels, who played one season at Dixie State with Brown and won a Nevada state title with Brown and GCU guard Courtney Hayes (who will sit out this season after transferring from Louisiana Tech), averaged 7.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in 31 games, starting 17.
Also back with ample experience is 6-4 senior center Asha McDonnell, who led GCU with a .565 field goal percentage and 36 blocked shots. Senior guard/forward Jenna Pearson has been a part of more wins than any current player. The only fourth-year senior of the group, she averaged 3.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and had 11 3-pointers. Two other seniors, center Jasmine Grayson (Cal State Fullerton) and guard Erica Paskell (Texas-Arlington) are in their second seasons at GCU after transferring from Division I programs. Grayson averaged 9.2 minutes and played in 29 games. Paskell averaged 3.6 points, hit 23 3-pointers and averaged 10.8 minutes in 30 contests.
"It's good to start the transition with experienced players," said May. "We're returning experienced players who have also won at this level and also played Division I basketball."
While there are plenty of veterans, May believes Petersen and Brown won't be the only newcomers to contribute. Freshmen August Touchard and Astrea Reed and sophomore Madison Craig will add strength to the backcourt, while Tori Morris is a frosh post working hard to get playing time.
"We've created a culture here to win," said May. "There are challenges, in that it's not an easy process, but the DNA of this program the last seven years has been winning. This would be harder if we hadn't already known how to be successful.
"I've been very blessed to have a staff (associate head coach Cory Cole and assistant coaches Erin Scholz and Milee Karre) that I get to work with day in and day out. Going through a new phase with them, I couldn't be more pleased with the staff and the direction."
GCU opens the regular season Saturday with a 2 p.m. contest at GCU Arena against Western State.
Links to live stats, video and audio and ticket information throughout the season will be available on the team's schedule page.
2013-14 Schedule
GCU Women's Basketball at Colorado State - Highlights
Thursday, January 22
GCU Women's Basketball at New Mexico - Highlights
Sunday, January 18
GCU Women's Basketball vs. Nevada - Highlights
Thursday, January 15
GCU Women's Basketball vs. Fresno State - Highlights
Sunday, January 11