GCU finishes 2009 with victory over Metro State

Thursday, December 31

Orange County, CA

W 64-63

Grand Canyon

6-5

Metro State^^^

6-6

Grand Canyon

Metro State (CO)

12/31/2009 7:57:01 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

IRVINE, Calif. -- Grand Canyon (6-5) finished the 2009 portion of its schedule with a 64-63 victory over Metro State in the Surf City Trip Sports Classic at CU Arena on the campus of Concordia University Thursday.

Senior forward Ashley Hardin (Phoenix, Ariz./Marcos de Niza/N. Arizona) led the way with 14 points and was named to the all-tournament team.

Off the bench, senior forward Stacy Haddow (pictured, Chino Valley, Ariz./Chino Valley) had 10 points.

GCU trailed most of the first half. It tied the game, 23-23, with 6:10 left in the opening 20 minutes with a field goal from senior Dana Iverson (Fort Collins, Colo./Fort Collins/W. Nebraska CC). The 'Lopes took their first lead, 25-23, on a layup from junior Katrina Graham (Mesa, Ariz./Desert Mountain/Mesa CC). A Haddow 3-pointer with four seconds left broke a tie and gave GCU a 37-34 lead at the break.

Grand Canyon led the rest of the way and by as much as 10 points.

Junior center Katie Johnson (Phoenix, Ariz./Deer Valley/So. Mountain CC) had eight poins and six rebounds. Junior guard Samantha Murphy (Phoenix, Ariz./Xavier Prep) had four steals and senior guard Shareka Purnell (Dale City, Va./C.D. Hylton/UALR) had four assists.

The three-time defending Pacific West Conference champions begin defense of their title 5 p.m. Jan. 7 at Antelope Gym against Chaminade.