GCU heads to California on Sunday

Sunday, December 16

Long Beach, Calif.

5 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Long Beach State

Photo by: David Kadlubowski

12/14/2018 11:05:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Lopes play final 2 games of 2018

By: Sarah Woodward

Following its final home game of 2018, the Grand Canyon women's basketball team heads to California for a two-game road trip to close out the calendar year at Long Beach State on Sunday and Santa Clara on Thursday.

GCU (2-6) held Portland State (7-0) to its lowest scoring total of the season on Tuesday night at GCU Arena, as Lopres senior center ShaRon Miller tallied a career-high 16 points in the 60-55 loss.

The Lopes are winless in December but take to the road looking to change the momentum heading into the WAC season in January.

GCU freshman forward Kennedi Shorts, made her collegiate debut Tuesday and is returning for Sunday's game to her hometown of Long Beach, Calif. Three other Lopes --Camille Hailey, Taylor Caldwell and AJ Cephas -- also return to their home state this weekend.

Scouting Long Beach State
Long Beach State (1-9) earned its only win of the season on Nov. 24 against Idaho. The 49ers began the year with a loss to fellow WAC member California Baptist at home before hosting and falling to USC. The Beach traveled to Utah and lost and then returned home and fell to Nevada.

Long Beach State hosted the Beach Classic and finished 1-1 with a win over Idaho and a loss to Northern Iowa over the Thanksgiving break. Since then, the 49ers are 0-4 with losses to Montana State, Oregon, San Diego and Arizona. The Beach plays at Loyola Marymount on Friday before facing GCU at home.

Long Beach State has three players averaging in double digits for scoring this season in Shanaijah Davison (14.4 points per game), Justina King (10.6) and Naomi Hunt (10.0).