Long Beach State University
Nevada
Women's Basketball Returns To Walter Pyramid Sunday
11/17/2018 2:03:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Beach hosts Nevada at 4 p.m.
Game:................................... Long Beach State vs. Nevada
Date:......................................... Sunday, November 18, 2018
Time:....................................................................... 4:00 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:................................................... Jay Holloway
Webcast:........................................................... Beach Vision
Live Stats:.............................................. beachlivestats.com
RIGHT AWAY
• Long Beach State returns home for the team's final game before the Beach Classic, hosting Nevada at 4 p.m. on Sunday in the Walter Pyramid.
• In the last meeting between the teams, it was the Beach that prevailed in overtime, grabbing a 97-93 win on the road in Reno as six players scored in double figures. This season, Sunday's game will be meaningful for both teams who are searching for their first win of the campaign.
• 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 34 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.
• Sophomore Naomi Hunt led Long Beach State with 21 points on the road at Utah, her third career 20-point game despite the loss. Hunt is now averaging 14.3 points per game, leading the team, and also tops in the squad in rebounding and shooting percentage, both from the field and from three-points.
• Long Beach State will host four games as part of the Beach Classic directly after Thanksgiving beginning on Friday, November 23. Boise State, Idaho and Northern Iowa will all come to the Walter Pyramid, with the Beach taking on NIU and the Vandals.
THE PLAYERS
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Cydnee Kinslow as a Division I transfer will be required to sit out the 2018-19 campaign but will be ready to contribute for the Beach in two seasons.
THIS AND THAT
• Jeff Cammon returned to the Beach in 2017 after having served as an assistant coach for Long Beach State from 2008-14. He brings a wealth of coaching experience after having spent time at Cal and Colorado before making his return to LBSU.
• Long Beach State will once again host the Beach Classic in 2018-19, as the team hosts Northern Iowa, Idaho and Boise State for a total of four games directly after Thanksgiving on November 23 and 24. The Beach will host two neutral games as well as playing Northern Iowa and Idaho as part of the tournament.
• The Beach Classic is just part of a tremendous home schedule that sees Long Beach State hosting 17 games in the Walter Pyramid this season. In addition to eight great Big West games, The Beach also welcomes a pair of Pac-12 opponents in USC and Arizona, and also plays Nevada and New Mexico from the Mountain West.Â
• Long Beach State is continuing its partnership with 22 West Media (formerly KBEACH) to provide online and HD radio broadcasts of every single game this season. Jay Holloway and Zachary Anderson-Yoxsimer will share the call throughout the season.
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