GCU Basketball Essentials: Week 16

GCU Women
vs. CSU Bakersfield
Location: GCU Arena -- Buy Tickets
Date: Thursday, Feb. 25, 7 p.m. MT
Records: CSUB 9-18 (6-6 WAC), GCU 15-13 (7-5 WAC)

GCU Men
at CSU Bakersfield
Location: Bakersfield, Calif.
Date: Saturday, Feb. 27, 8 p.m. MT
Records: CSUB 19-8 (9-3 WAC), GCU 24-4 (10-2 WAC)

Women: With only one game on tap each of the last two weeks of the regular season, Grand Canyon can focus in on the task at hand: secure a pair of wins and earn at least a share of second place in the Western Athletic Conference standings. GCU has come a long way from its WAC opener when the Lopes scored just 28 points in a 24-point road loss. Now, they have matched last year's league win total and put themselves in position to match -- or even beat -- the third-place finish from their first year in the conference. CSU Bakersfield is first up on the final home swing, followed by Utah Valley. CSUB is one game behind the three-way log jam of teams tied at 7-5, including GCU. UVU resides in the tied mess, meaning the last game of the season on the Lopes' home court may be the most important. Interesting and exciting times around campus. Now, just think how fun this will be in a couple years when conference tournament seeding is on the line.

Men: In effect, Saturday's matchup may be bigger than even advertised. Why? Well, it's likely the last key matchup of the regular season in regards to the Western Athletic Conference standings. Grand Canyon, playing only one game this week, stands one game ahead of CSU Bakersfield in league play. The Lopes defeated CSUB in a tightly contested, six-point victory in Phoenix late in January. Saturday's matchup in California could easily set the tables for the final standings as a GCU win would give the Lopes the yearly series and a two-game cushion for second place heading into the final WAC game of the regular season. A tie for the league title is not impossible, but at this point, it would take a lot -- and not much is in GCU's control. While only one game behind league-leader New Mexico State, the Aggies' final two games will be against teams both set in the bottom three of the WAC standings.

Women: Take a minute to relax, Lopes. Not long, mind you, as you still have two games remaining, but get a breather after that grueling ride through the road schedule this season. That trek has ended after Grand Canyon finished road play with a pair of wins last week, marking their 14th and 15th games away from Phoenix. It's something they take pride in and they should after posting a solid 8-3 mark in true road games. It didn't start as well away from home as that early season tournament led to four straight neutral-site losses -- three in lopsided fashion -- but the Lopes regrouped and have found a way to get the job done despite the taxing travel schedule.

Men: The Lopes love being at home. Who wouldn't, what with that atmosphere created by the incredible Havocs student section and fans? Awesome. It's helped them to a 16-2 record at the GCU Arena this season. But, that time has come and gone. Until the postseason begins, we won't know if this GCU team will play in Phoenix again in 2016, but what we do know is that three key road games remain, starting this week. Luckily, the Lopes have felt nearly as at home on the road as on their own court to the tune of an 8-2 record away from home. No WAC team has more wins away from home this season, and that's good as GCU will need the experience facing CSU Bakersfield, which is 12-1 in its home arena this season.

Women: After picking up victories in each of its games last week, Grand Canyon is now one of the hottest teams in the league. Outside of league-leader New Mexico State, which already has sewn up the conference title with a 12-0 record to date, GCU is tied with Utah Valley for the second-longest current winning streak at three games. How'd they do it? Versatility comes to mind. Against UMKC, the Lopes shot lights out with five players finishing in double figures, including Cheyenne Hedrington's double-double. At Chicago State, it was the Lopes' stingy defense that allowed the Cougars to shoot just 33 percent from the floor.

Men: Question: which team has the longest winning streak in the WAC right now? The answer has a familiar sound for Lopes fans as GCU is again atop that column after winning five consecutive games since back-to-back losses three weeks ago. Only two other teams in the conference have won back-to-back games entering this week. A win on Saturday would give Grand Canyon its third streak of at least six victories in a row this season. GCU opened the year with six straight wins, and also had a 12-game winning streak that propelled it into the national spotlight as one of the nation's most surprising -- and underappreciated -- teams.

Women: Man, coach Trent May knows how to get his team playing its best at the end of the season, again rolling out W's left and right in the final weeks of the third straight WAC season. That sure bodes well when the Lopes end their transition to Division I. At 7-5 entering the week, GCU still has a chance to finish as high as second place in the league. It won't be easy, but here's something nice to hear when you have a formidable task ahead: GCU has already defeated both of the teams still has remaining on the schedule. The Lopes took down CSU Bakersfield and Utah Valley on the road, and now look to finish off a big turnaround to the season at home over the next two weeks.

Men: Grand Canyon likes playing in these things called WAC games. Unlike most programs transitioning to full Division I status, GCU has made an immediate mark in the league, easily and quickly rising to be one of the conference's strongest teams since 2014-15. That first year, the Lopes posted a 10-6 record in league play and finished third. Last year, it was an 8-6 mark and second-place finish. This year again will end in double figures as GCU already has 10 conference wins with two games remaining. It still has a chance to split the league title, and is guaranteed no worse than third place in the finals standings. Pretty strong for the newcomers, don't you think?

Women: After not finding much success on the court over the past two months, Devyn Edwards still kept her focus and it showed last week as she posted 22 points with seven rebounds in GCU's two wins. She hit 9 of 14 field-goal attempts and her point total was more than she had scored in her 12 games combined from Dec. 30 until last Thursday. Edwards' key plays kept GCU in the race for the No. 2 position in the final WAC standings, and helped them guarantee at least a .500 record overall and in league play this season.

Men: That's a heckuva way to enjoy your senior night. Working out of the starting lineup and posting 36 minutes on Saturday, Ryan Majerle ignited GCU for the second time in three games with his deft long-range shooting. He posted a career-best 17 points by draining five 3-pointers. One of five seniors -- along with Grandy Glaze, Uros Ljeskovic, Grant White and Jevon Estelle -- Majerle helped the Lopes to 12 treys on the night as they ran away from Chicago State to finish the regular-season home slate. Nice finish guys, really nice.

Grand Canyon University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Devyn Edwards

Jevon Estelle

Grandy Glaze

Cheyenne Hedrington

Uros Ljeskovic

Ryan Majerle

Grant White

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