Antelopes remain unbeaten in league play

ST. GEORGE, Utah -- Sara Dalgliesh confirmed they came to play not for play.

"We were coming here for business," said the senior center from Grangeville, Ida. "We were really ready. We were concentrating on what we needed to do."

What the Antelopes did was win their fourth straight, beating host Dixie State 66-51 Friday night. It kept Grand Canyon unbeaten in PacWest play entering tonight's 5:30 p.m. game at Dixie.

GCU (8-7, 4-0 PacWest) broke away from from a 34-30 halftime lead with a new look that got its post players more involved. Tied 45-45 with 12:36 to play, Grand Canyon held Dixie State (6-7, 2-2) scoreless for the next 8:33. The 'Lopes went on a 16-0 run during that stretch.

"I try not to look at the scoreboard and think it's 0-0 the whole game to keep playing hard," GCU forward Ashley Hardin said.

"I couldn't find the scoreboard," Dalgliesh confessed.

Dalgliesh finished with 10 points and eight rebounds, and Hardin (pictured) had 12 points, 10 boards and three blocks as the Antelopes threw in new wrinkles on the offensive end. The 18 boards between the two of them was much needed.

"We stressed that a lot, rebounds," Dalgliesh said.

Rosalyn Nelson had seven boards and finished with 17 points and six steals. Jacque Stevens had 10 points and three steals. Samantha Murphy had 13 points, six rebounds and four steals.

"The offense focuses on all five players," Dalgliesh said. "Each game is so important because on any given night any team can beat any other team. When you're in conference play, teams inch closer with each game. When you win and pull away, it's that much more critical."

Grand Canyon had 19 steals, and forced 28 Dixie State turnovers. It was a lot of the same. But the same might not be the norm now.

"Now that we're playing conference," Hardin said, "you've got to expect the unexpected."

Grand Canyon University Athletics

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