GCU improves to 2-0 in PacWest with win over BYU

Saturday, January 9

GCU

W 72-54

Grand Canyon

8-5, 2-0

BYU HAWAI'I*

4-8, 0-2

BYU-Hawaii

Grand Canyon

1/9/2010 10:18:44 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Grand Canyon University got double-figure scoring from three players, two coming off the bench, in a 72-54 victory over BYU-Hawaii Saturday at Antelope Gym.

The victory propels the Antelopes to 2-0 in the Pacific West Conference and 8-5 overall.

The three-time defending league champions were led by junior guard Samantha Murphy (Phoenix, Ariz./Xavier Prep) with 20 points, four assists and four steals.

Off the bench, junior Kia Gibson (pictured, Nine Mile Falls, Wash./Lakeside/N. Idaho College) had 14 points and nine rebounds. Sophomore sub Steffani Liscum (Tucson, Ariz./Marana) had 10 points, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range, five rebounds and three steals.

"You've got to win the (conference games) at home," said GCU head coach Trent May, his club defeated visiting Chaminade Thursday. The 'Lopes are headed on a three-game Bay Area road trip with contests against Dominican (Thursday), Notre Dame de Namur (Jan. 16) and Academy of Art (Jan. 18).

"We did a good job on the boards and we wanted to hold them under 60 points and we did that."

GCU won the rebound contest 45-32. Along with Gibson's team and career-high in caroms and Liscum's numbers, senior Ashley Hardin (Chandler, Ariz./Marcos de Niza/N. Arizona) and Murphy each had five boards.

Hardin had a team-high six assists. Senior Shareka Purnell (Dale City, Va./C.D. Hylton/UALR) had seven points, five steals and three assists.

GCU got 33 points off the bench. Senior Dana Iverson (Fort Collins, Colo./Fort Collins/W. Nebraska) had nine points.

"It's good to have a lot of players that want to play and a lot of girls that are capable of playing," added May, who for the second straight game played his entire 13-player roster.