PHOENIX -- The Grand Canyon women's basketball team is in action for a pair of games in the Air Force Classic in Colorado Springs, Colo. over the weekend. The Lopes look to snap a four-game losing streak against some top competition in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Women's Challenge. GCU dropped decisions to USC, Gonzaga and West Virginia in Spokane before a narrow loss to Fairleigh Dickinson in Uncasville, Conn. to close out the tournament.
Cheyenne Hedrington (12.4) and Dana Jones (10.4) are pacing GCU in the scoring column with double-digit scoring averages through seven games. Hedrington posted point totals of 23 and 26 in the final two games of the tournament, respectively, to vault into the WAC's top ten scorers. Jones scored in double figures in four of the first five games this season for Grand Canyon.
THE ALL-TIME SERIES
Grand Canyon vs. Abilene Christian - Grand Canyon leads series 1-0 // W, 70-57 (11/24/2013)
Grand Canyon vs. Air Force - Air Force leads series 2-0 // L, 101-75 (1/12/1990); L, 91-60 (1/13/1990)
SCOUTING ABILENE CHRISTIAN
The Wildcats enter this week with a 4-1 record including a three-game winning streak. Abilene Christian will visit Texas Tech prior to Friday's matchup vs. GCU. Abilene Christian is a perfect 4-0 at home with a road loss at Big 12 opponent Kansas State on Nov. 16. The Wildcats would rank in the top 25 in scoring with their 81.4 points per game mark, but -- like GCU -- they are in year three of transitioning to Division I and, therefore, cannot qualify. Alexis Mason (14.8), Sydney Shelstead (14.0) and Whitney West (11.6) pace ACU's powerful offense with double-figure scoring averages. Suzzy Dimba is tied for the Southland Conference lead with 10 blocks (2.0 per game).
SCOUTING AIR FORCE
Air Force is searching for its first win of the season through six games as the Falcons look to find a consistent offensive attack. The Falcons' 38.3 points per game ranks last in the country out of the 344 NCAA Division I teams. Air Force is coming off of its lowest point output of the season, scoring just 29 points in a 57-point loss to Vanderbilt on Nov. 30. Air Force's 29-point total versus Vanderbilt was just one shy of tying the school record for fewest points in a game. The Falcons' closest game came in a 57-48 loss to Denver on Nov. 18. Air Force's first loss of the season came at the hands of Gonzaga, a team GCU also lost to. The Falcons are led in scoring by sophomore guard Cortney Porter who averages 8.8 points per game.
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