Women's Basketball To Host Beach Classic Starting Friday

Friday, November 23

Long Beach, Calif.

5 p.m.

Long Beach State University

Boise State vs. Idaho

Photo by: John Fajardo

11/21/2018 10:02:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Game Notes - Northern Iowa Game Notes - Idaho

The Walter Pyramid will play host to four games this weekend.

By: Roger Kirk, Assistant Athletics Director, Athletic Communications

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Long Beach State will play host to the Beach Classic after the Thanksgiving holiday, welcoming Boise State, Idaho and Northern Iowa to the Walter Pyramid for four games beginning on Friday, November 23. Action begins on Friday at 5 p.m. when Boise State hosts Idaho, with the Beach taking on NIU following. On Saturday, the Broncos will face the Panthers at 2 p.m. before LBSU closes the tournament against Idaho at 4 p.m.

Game:.......................... Long Beach State vs. Northern Iowa
Date:........................................... Friday, November 23, 2018
Time:..................................................................... 7:00 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
• The Beach has never played Northern Iowa, but will face an old conference foe in Idaho, who now competes in the Big Sky. The Beach holds a 14-4 overall record against the Vandals, and has won three straight in the Walter Pyramid.

• 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. Davison starts the week leading the team in scoring at 13.3 points per game.

• 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 11.8 points per game, second on the team, and tops in the squad in rebounding and shooting percentage, both from the field and from three-points.

THE PLAYERS
• The Beach is very young still in 2018-19, with nearly 75% of available minutes going to freshman and sophomores so far this season. Long Beach State's lone senior, Martina McCowan, started the first four games of the season, averaging 3.8 points and 2.8 rebounds. The team's other returning upperclassman is junior Aaryon Green, who started the first two games of the season and is averaging just over two points and two rebounds per game.

• Long Beach State should be a dangerous team from behind the arc this season with a number of great shooters on the squad. The Beach leads the Big West with 8.5 made threes per game, and has five players shooting 30% or better from behind the arc, led by Naomi Hunt who has made 10 threes while shooting 58.9 percent through four games.

• Junior Sydney Bordonaro has stepped up in a leadership role in her junior season. A graduate transfer from Pepperdine, Bordonaro has been excellent for the Beach off of the bench, averaging 9.5 points per game while shooting 41.2 percent from three.

• Freshman Justin King came to the Beach fresh off an international appearance with Team Canada at the 2018 FIBA U18 Americas Championship. A Scarborough, Canada native, King has transitioned well into the collegiate game, starting every game so far for Long Beach State and leading the team in assists while averaging 8.0 points per game.

• 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. Hardy's made a quick adjustment to college ball, averaging 9.4 points per game while adding 3.0 rebounds per game and making two starts on the season.

• Two other freshmen have made solid contributions in the early part of the season. Kianna Hamilton-Fisher has averaged 5.8 points per game while making nine steals, just behind King for the team lead, while Lauren Green has played in every game this season as a post option off of the bench.

• 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. The Beach is also awaiting the return of Ma'Qhi Berry, Bria Rice and Chloe Gaynor.

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.