GCU falls to No. 4 Alaska-Anchorage

Saturday, December 12

Anchorage, AK

L 70-84

Grand Canyon

5-3

Alaska Anchorage^

8-0

Grand Canyon

Alaska Anchorage

12/12/2009 11:51:47 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

ANCHORAGE -- In a game where it led much of the first half -- threatening to end the home team's 26-game home winning streak and six-year reign against visiting non-conference teams -- Grand Canyon ended up falling short, losing 84-70 to fourth-ranked Alaska-Anchorage in the AT&T Classic at Wells Fargo Sports Complex Saturday.

The 14-point deficit was hardly indicative of the tightly contested game. GCU trailed by only five with just 5:44 left. The Antelopes (5-3) led by four, 33-29 with 2:02 left in the first half, but the Seawolves finished the first 20 minutes on a 6-0 run.

GCU junior Samantha Murphy (pictured, Phoenix, Ariz./Xavier Prep) and senior Shareka Purnell (Dale City, Va./C.D. Hylton/UALR) were named to the all-tournament team.

Murphy scored 26 in Saturday's loss. She hit 7-of-10 field goals and had four steals. Purnell, a 5-foot, 4-inch point guard, led GCU with eight rebounds and six assists. She also had four points and three steals prior to fouling. out.

UAA improved to 8-0 on the season.

Junior Katrina Graham (Mesa, Ariz./Desert Mountain/Mesa CC) had nine points. Junior centers Katie Johnson (Phoenix, Ariz./Deer Valley/South Mountain CC) and Kia Gibson (Nine Mile Falls, Wash./Lakeside/N. Idaho CC) each had seven points.