Preview: Women's Basketball Hosts Grand Canyon in Conference Opener

Chicago State women's basketball opens its 2021 Western Athletic Conference schedule at home, facing Grand Canyon at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday evening. The game will be the Cougars' first since December 4. Here's how to watch, follow and attend:
 

Chicago State Cougars vs. Grand Canyon Antelopes Date | Time Thursday, December 30 | 6:00 p.m. CT Location Jones Convocation Center | Chicago, Illinois Television ESPN+ Tickets  Tickets Link Live Stats Live Stats Game Notes Chicago State Game Notes

 

WHAT'S HAPPENING The Chicago State women's basketball team opens its final season of Western Athletic Conference play, as it hosts the Grand Canyon Antelopes Thursday evening. This is the Cougars' first game since December 4, a span of 24 days.

ALL-TIME Chicago State and Grand Canyon have faced off 14 times, with Grand Canyon having won 13 of those meetings. The two squads last played on February 15, 2020, a 68-57 GCU win in Chicago.

LAST TIME OUT The Cougars have dropped their last two matchups by fewer than two possessions. After a 59-58 buzzer-beating loss to Indiana State on Wednesday, December 1, St. Thomas edged CSU, 62-57, on Saturday, December 4. Aaliyah Collins led the Cougars with 20 points, which powered her to her third consecutive WAC Freshman of the Week honor. Collins is the first played in Chicago State history to win three such honors in a row.

SIZING UP THE ANTELOPES  Grand Canyon, under second-year head coach Molly Miller, is 7-4, boasting an unbeaten home record, but an 0-3 mark on the road. The Antelopes are known for their high-octane offense and full-court press and are powered by veteran duo Jay McChristine and Dom Phillips, both of whom score 10.9 points per game. Freshman Naudia Evans is fresh off a WAC Freshman of the Week honor, an award that has been bestowed on CSU's Aaliyah Collins three times. The Antelopes force a remarkable 24.6 turnovers per game and took down UC Irvine, 58-53, in their last game on Thursday, December 23.

CLIMBING THE RANKS As just a freshman, former Washington State Player of the Year Aaliyah Collins has taken the conference — and nation — by storm. She leads the Cougars with 15.0 points per game, which ranks eighth in the Western Athletic Conference. Her 31 steals lead the league, a total that 11th fourth in NCAA Division I. Adding to the defensive punch is junior Kyjai Miles, whose 1.5 blocks per game rank second in the WAC.

COVID Protocols:
Face Coverings and Social Distancing will be implemented during athletically related activities to prevent transmission and prevent outbreaks based on current local guidelines.
 
PLEASE NOTE: Effective Jan 3, patrons to the Jones Convocation Center must show proof of vaccination in accordance with the City of Chicago updated requirements. This is applicable to all patrons ages 5 and over. 
 
Tickets
There are no cash sales of tickets on site. It is strongly encouraged to purchase tickets online prior to arrival to the arena for entry. Please go to the ticketing page HERE, to see what is available and how to purchase.

About Chicago State

Chicago State University Athletics is comprised of 15 intercollegiate teams involving over 150 student-athletes that compete in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and volleyball. CSU held memberships in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and NCAA Division II before transitioning to NCAA Division I in 1994. Melvin Bland was the first CSU student-athlete to gain NAIA All-American status in 1974 as a wrestler. Fred Evans became the first black swimmer ever to win a national championship in 1975. CSU's women's basketball team earned a spot in the 2011 Women's Basketball Invitational and CSU's men's basketball team won the 2013 Great West Conference Tournament title and made an appearance in the CollegeInside.com Postseason Tournament (CIT).  The Men's Outdoor Track & Field 4x100-Meter Relay team were 2019 Honorable Mention All-Americans and WAC Champions. Their feat marked the first time the Chicago State's men's track & field program was represented at the national meet. 

Follow the Cougars

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