GCU loses by three to once-beaten Western Washington

Monday, December 28

San Diego, CA

L 78-81

Grand Canyon

5-4

Western Washington^^

9-1

Western Washington

Grand Canyon

12/28/2009 8:49:15 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

LA JOLLA, Calif. -- Grand Canyon (5-4) dropped its opener of the UCSD Triton Classic to Western Washington, 81-78, Monday.

Junior guard Samantha Murphy (pictured, Phoenix, Ariz./Xavier Prep) had 23 points, including 14-of-14 free throws. Junior Katrina Graham (Mesa, Ariz./Desert Mountain/Mesa CC) had 14 points and senior Ashley Hardin (Phoenix, Ariz./Marcos de Niza/Northern Arizona) had 11.

GCU's four losses have come to teams with a combined record of 33-3. Western Washington improved to 9-1. Its lone loss was in overtime to No. 8 Washburn. GCU has lost to No. 14 UC San Diego and No. 5 Alaska-Anchorage.

"We're competing against great teams and have had the opportunity to beat these great teams," said GCU coach Trent May. "We're going to put it all together. We're still a new team with a lot of new parts. We're going through a growing period and when that growth happens, watch out."

The 'Lopes own a victory over No. 20 Seattle Pacific and will play the Falcons for a second time 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Triton Classic.

Monday's game featured 10 ties, eight in the first half. WWU led by as much as eight in the second half. GCU got within one, 75-74, with 1:35 left on a Graham layup.

Point guard Shareka Purnell (Dale City, Va./C.D. Hylton/UALR) had team-highs with eight rebounds, four assists and two steals. GCU, ranked second in the nation in free-throw shooting, hit 34-of-37 attempts against the Vikings.

Off the bench, senior Stacy Haddow (Chino Valley, Ariz./Chino Valley) had seven points, five rebounds and three assists.

WWU was led by Amanda Dunbar with 28 points. Willow Cabe had 24.

"We battled hard (Monday) we just fell short," added May.