FRESNO STATE (4-1) vs GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY (2-2)
Nov. 24, 2023 | 2:30 p.m. MST / 1:30 p.m. PT | ESPN+ | GCU Arena | Phoenix, Arizona
FRESNO STATE (4-1) vs EASTERN ILLINOIS (1-2)
Nov. 25, 2023 | 12 p.m. MST / 11 a.m. PT | GCU Arena | Phoenix, Arizona
*Neutral site games not streamed
MEDIA COVERAGE
TV - ESPN+
Live Stats: StatBroadcast (GCU) // StatBroadcast (Eastern Illinois)
Twitter (X): FresnoStateWBB
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State women's basketball hits the road for their first tournament of the non-conference portion in Phoenix, Arizona for the GCU Classic. The tournament begins Friday, Nov. 24 were the 'Dogs will face the hosts, Grand Canyon, tip-off on ESPN+ is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. MST / 1:30 p.m. PT . Fresno State will close out the tournament against Eastern Illinois on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 12 p.m. MST / 11 a.m. PT.
BULLDOG BONES
Fresno State sits (4-1) going into the tournament this week
Bulldogs' have earned their fourth win, scoring more than 70 points while keeping their opponents to 65 or less points
Mia Jacobs earned her first double-double (16 points, 13 rebounds) vs Long Beach State and the second double-double for the Bulldogs this season
Junior Keely Brown saw herself back in the starters mix against Long Beach State, Brown is the only Bulldog to score double-digit points in back-to-back games (CSU Bakersfield and Long Beach State.)
Through five games three Bulldogs have over 50 points; Mia Jacobs (62), Taija Sta. Maria (60) and Keely Brown (54)
FRESH-men
Freshman starters Taija Sta. Maria and Kylee Fox continue to lead on the court. Fox has earned her fourth start for the Bulldogs' against Long Beach State. Fox was one of four players to record double-digit points (11) against Beach, going 3-of-7 from the three, 4-9 from the field in over 30 minutes of play Tuesday night.
Sta. Maria is proving to be a play maker on the court for the 'Dogs this season. Starting in all five games for the Bulldogs, she has a combined 60 points and five 3-pointers. Sta. Maria recently earned the Mountain West's Freshman of the Week Honors (Nov. 13). Against Long Beach State, Sta. Maria played on both sides of the court, with seven assists, two of which were for three-pointers. Sta. Maria also recorded three defensive rebounds and one steal.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
GRAND CANYON
Head coach Molly Miller, is entering her fourth season leading the Lopes
Lopes sit (2-2) entering the tournament weekend
'Dogs will face the Lopes coming off back-to-back losses from Oregon and Montana
Grand Canyon was selected as the favorite the WAC's preseason rankings, above 2022-23 WAC Tournament Champions, Southern Utah
This season the Lopes will see the return of two players that started 29 games in the 2022-23 campaign ,Tiarra Brown and Naudia Evan.
Through four games, Grand Canyon starters Brown and Evans have placed themselves as the Lopes top scorers. Brown 51 points, 12.8 avg, twelve 3-pointers and Evans 51 points,12.8 avg, four 3-pointers.
EASTERN ILLINOIS
Head coach, Matt Bollant enters his seventh season leading the Panthers.
Panthers sit (1-2) going into the tournament weekend
This is the first meeting in program history for the two teams
Eastern Illinois saw their biggest loss at No. 9 Indiana 43-96
Panthers were ranked third in the OVC Preseason Poll
Top scorers for the Panthers are freshman Lalani Ellis 51 points, 17.0 avg, 21 rebounds and junior Macy McGlone 36 points, 12.0 avg, and 21 rebounds.
Ellis earned two honors OVC honors on Nov. 14 Player and Freshman of the week after scoring 21 points in the Panthers season opener