GCU Home Winning Streak Reaches 12

Saturday, February 12

GCU

1:00 p.m.

Grand Canyon

20-2, 8-1

Dominican

5-17, 3-9

Dominican

Grand Canyon

Stevie Kamp

2/12/2011 5:35:19 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Antelopes beat Dominican 79-59

By: Steve Heath

Grand Canyon extended its school-record home winning streak to 12 with a 79-59 Pacific West Conference triumph over Dominican University of California at Antelope Gymnasium Saturday.

Ranked No. 10 in the nation by the USA Today/ESPN Division II Coaches’ Top 25 Poll, Grand Canyon (20-2, 8-1) was led by seniors Samantha Murphy and Rosalyn Nelson with 20 and 16 points, respectively.

Nelson was 7-of-8 from the field. Freshman Jenna Pearson had her first collegiate double-digit scoring game with 10 points. Stevie Kamp had seven points and a team-high seven rebounds.

GCU jumped out on the Penguins early and led 39-18 at halftime.

“Our defense,” answered Nelson on the key to a good start. “As long as we step it up on defense our offense flows and our transition points are big.”

Dominican rallied in the second half. Though GCU extended its lead to 25 points, the Penguins cut into in the second half, outscoring GCU 41-40.

“In the first half we came out with a lot more determination on offense and defense and in the second half we were complacent,” said Kamp.

Head coach Trent May won his 20^th game of the season for the first time at GCU. He had won 19 twice, including last season (19-8). He also did it in 2007-08 (19-10). He is Grand Canyon’s all-time winningest coach with a 74-32 record.

“We got off to a good start and had a lot of energy and good emotion,” said May. “Defensively, we were locked down. We did a good job of that in the first half, but we didn’t defend the way we should have in the second half.”

Nelson had four rebounds to put her over 500 (502) for her career.

Dominican falls to 5-17 and 3-9 in the PacWest. It was led by Tammy Brawner with 23 points.

GCU has won eight straight games since dropping the conference opener at No. 13 Dixie State. The Antelopes will play host to Hawai’i Pacific 5 p.m. Thursday.

Box Score