GCU Takes on SPU in NCAA First Round

Friday, March 11

Pomona, CA

2:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Seattle Pacific

Junior Jallisa Butler and the seventh-ranked Lady Antelopes take on Seattle Pacific Friday in the first round of the NCAA West Regional.

3/10/2011 11:15:15 PM | Women's Basketball

Rematch of 2009 contest

By: Steve Heath

Proud of what they have already accomplished, but hungry for more, Grand Canyon University's women's basketball team begins their journey into the postseason Friday with a 3:30 p.m. (Mountain Time) contest with Seattle Pacific in the NCAA Division II West Regional at Kellogg Gym in Pomona, Calif.

The Antelopes, ranked No. 7 in the final USA Today/ESPN Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll and seeded second in the regional, are making their fourth NCAA tournament appearance and second in the last three years.

Grand Canyon (27-2) defeated Seattle Pacific (20-8) in December in the PacWest/GNAC Challenge at St. George, Utah, 74-69. It lost to the Falcons, 77-48 in the 2009 regional. The Antelopes have won two of the last three meetings, splitting regular-season games in the 2009-10 season.

GCU has won 15 straight games and set a school-record with 27 wins. Senior All-America candidate Samantha Murphy leads the nation in scoring (24.9) and free-throw shooting (91.6).

The winner of the GCU-SPU contest plays 6 p.m. (MT) against the Dixie State-CSU Monterey Bay winner. The region championship is slated for 7 p.m. Monday. The region winner moves on to the Elite 8 in St. Joseph's, Missouri March 22.

"It's been an incredible year," said GCU coach Trent May. "I'm proud of our girls and their championship mindset."

Fans can watch, listen and keep up with all the stats at Tournament Central. For more on Friday's matchup with lineup, stats and notes, click here.