Long Beach State University
USC
Women's Basketball Continues Homestand Sunday Against USC
11/10/2018 3:27:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Beach plays their second home game of the weekend in the Walter Pyramid.
LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Long Beach State continues a local series, facing off against USC for the sixth season in a row in the non-conference Sunday in the Walter Pyramid. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m., and the game will be streamed live via Beach Vision.
Game:......................................... Long Beach State vs. USC
Date:......................................... Sunday, November 21, 2018
Time:....................................................................... 2:00 p.m.
Location:.................................................. Long Beach, Calif.
Arena:............................................... Walter Pyramid (4,200)
TV:................................................................................. None
TV Talent:..................................................................... None
Radio:.................................... 22 West Radio, HD FM 88.1-3
Radio Talent:.......................... Zachary Anderson-Yoxsimer
Webcast:........................................................... Beach Vision
Live Stats:.............................................. beachlivestats.com
Â
RIGHT AWAY
• In the last meeting between the teams in the Walter Pyramid, Long Beach State pushed USC to overtime, but the Trojans ultimately prevailed 90-85 despite 22 points from Raven Benton.
• Sophomore Shanaijah Davison was a unanimous preseason All-Big West selection after a tremendous freshman season. Davison was one of six players picked by both the coaches and media after averaging 13.8 points per game as a true freshman, leading the Beach. An Honorable Mention All-Big West selection in 2017-18, Davison was ninth in the Big West in scoring last season, and finished the year with 400 points scored, tied for the second-most scored by any LBSU freshman.
 • Davison had an incredible game in the opening contest of the season, scoring a career-high 32 points with five rebounds, six assists and three steals, but Long Beach State came up just shy despite that effort in an 85-83 loss to California Baptist.
 • A very young squad in 2017-18 reeled off five straight wins to close the regular season and push up to sixth place in the Big West standings in Jeff Cammon's first year at the helm. Long Beach State had lost four starters and eight letterwinners the 2016-17 NCAA Tournament team, and ultimately started three freshman throughout the season.
 • Long Beach State's squad in 2018-19 will still be young, with only two returning upperclassmen in senior Martina McCowan and junior Aaryon Green. McCowan has played in 83 games over the last three seasons for the Beach, starting 37 while Green completed her first full season at the Beach after missing two prior seasons due to injury.
 THE PLAYERS
• While still underclassmen, Long Beach State's returning sophomores gained plenty of experience one season ago. Shanaijah Davison, Naomi Hunt and Ma'Qhi Berry all started at least 19 games as true freshman, and played a key role in the team's late turnaround. Davison was the team's top scorer, averaging 13.8 points per game, while Hunt added 8.0 points per game and 3.4 rebounds per game while proving a dangerous outside presence, making 48 3-pointers at a percentage of 44.0%. Berry was the teams leader in assists one season ago with 107, and also averaged 7.1 points per game as all three were in the top five in scoring for the team in 2017-18.
 • The team's experience will be bolstered by a trio of transfers and two returning redshirts. The Beach brings in a pair of juniors from Division I programs in Sydney Bordonaro and Cydnee Kinslow. Bordonaro averaged over six points per game in two seasons at Pepperdine, while Kinslow comes to the Beach from Illinois. Also coming across town is Miranda Martinez, a two-year starter at Long Beach City College. The Beach also welcomes back Bria Rice and Chloe Gaynor after the two spent the previous season on a redshirt.
 • A highly touted recruiting class will also immediately press for time on the court this coming season, featuring Lauren Green, Kianna Hamilton-Fisher, Jasmine Hardy and Justina King.
 • Long Beach State should be a dangerous team from behind the arc this season with a number of great shooters on the squad. Naomi Hunt led the Big West one season ago at 44 percent from long range, while Sydney Bordonaro also shot over 40 percent last season at Pepperdine. Davison was also a prolific shooter from distance one year ago, making 43 3-pointers in her first season at the Beach.
 • While Davison carried the preseason plaudits for the Beach, Naomi Hunt also had a tremendous first season at Long Beach State and will be relied to continue to grow this season. Hunt's versatility allowed her to third on the team in rebounding while averaging 8.0 points per game while making 10 blocks and 30 steals on the year as a forward.
 • Martina McCowan is the team's lone senior, and the Beach will rely on her veteran presence after her three previous seasons at LBSU. A strong defensive presence, McCowan made 58 steals and 61 assists one season ago and averaged 2.3 rebounds per game while starting 14 games as a junior.
 • Aaryon Green also has an opportunity to play a key role in the upcoming season. Green played limited minutes in her first full season after coming off some major injuries, but is a true post presence and will have the chance to contribute in her junior season as one of two returning upperclassmen for the Beach.
 • King comes to Long Beach State coming off of an international appearance with Team Canada at the 2018 FIBA U18 Americas Championship. A native of Scarborough, Canada, King averaged 6.0 points and 2.7 assists per game in an average of 24.3 minutes as the Canadian U18 team reached the tournament finals.
 • Jasmine Hardy and assistant coach Bryan Camacho have ties dating back before this season at Long Beach State, as Camacho was her head coach at Bishop Alemany HS where Hardy starred for four seasons.
