GCU's Historic Season Ends in Region Final

Monday, March 14

Pomona, CA

7:00 p.m.

Grand Canyon

29-3

Cal Poly Pomona

28-4

Grand Canyon

Cal Poly Pomona

Senior standout Samantha Murphy finished her GCU career Monday with 24 points in the region final in Pomona, Calif. Murphy had 2,147 points in her career and a record 786 points this season.

3/14/2011 11:52:26 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Antelopes finish record-setting season 29-3

By: Steve Heath

Grand Canyon’s historic women’s basketball season came to a close Monday.

In front of 1,103 at Kellogg Gym in Pomona, Calif. -- including over 200 well-wishers who bussed drove and flew over 300 miles to see their record-setting women -- Grand Canyon lost 68-61 to Cal Poly Pomona in the NCAA II West Region Championship Monday.

It was a battle of the tournament’s top seeds. Pomona was No. 1 and GCU was No. 2. The Antelopes came in ranked No. 7 nationally in the USA Today/ESPN Division II Coaches’ Top 25 poll. Pomona was No. 23.

Grand Canyon (29-3) couldn’t overcome a slow start and an unusual cold-shooting night from the perimeter, but it couldn’t damper the coach’s thoughts on all his team accomplished this season.

“I am so thrilled for our season and our effort throughout the course,” said Trent May. “You don’t get here without doing a lot of things right.”

Pomona (28-4) will play Northwest Missouri State in the Elite 8 in St. Joseph’s, Missouri on March 22.

The Antelopes didn’t get their first field goal until a Samantha Murphy jumper at the 13:39 mark. The ‘Lopes trailed by as much as 13, 20-7 with 6:03 to go, in the first half before rallying to cut it to 26-19 at the break.

“In the first half we shot horribly ... we were down 13 and cut it to seven and that was fine, we were OK with that,” said Murphy. “We had a nice run early in the second half, but they kept answering and we didn’t have enough defensive stops.”

GCU got within three, 28-25, just two-plus minutes into the second half getting two buckets from Jallisa Butler and one from Stevie Kamp.

Pomona got the lead back to nine as late as the 4:31 mark, but GCU made another run. Murphy hit a 3, and added a jumper to cut it to 56-52 with 3:43 to go. The Broncos’ answered with Reyana Colson scoring two straight lay-ups, the latter off a steal to make it 60-52 with 3:15 to go.

Still, the Antelopes kept coming. Off one of her game-high 12 rebounds, Butler cut it 62-59 with just 36 ticks remaining. The Broncos sealed it by going 6-of-6 at the line in the final 20 seconds.

Grand Canyon set numerous records throughout the season, including a record-tying 17-game winning streak, a school-record for consecutive wins at home (15) and a record for wins in a season (29). They were the first women’s basketball team to go an entire season unbeaten at home (14-0). It also won the program's fourth PacWest title in the last five years.

Then, there was Murphy.

The senior star named PacWest Player of the Year and first team all-West Region for the second straight year was also selected first team Academic All-American. She finished her career with a record 2,147 points. Her 786 points in a season are the most of any player, man or woman, in GCU history. She led the nation in both scoring (24.6) and free-throw shooting (91.4).

“It’s meant a lot to me,” said Murphy. “I couldn’t ask for a better team. I’m glad I was given this opportunity ... I do feel blessed.”

Along with Murphy, GCU graduates three other seniors, Rosalyn Nelson, Kristi Girdley and Katie Johnson.

“I feel blessed to be a part of this,” said Girdley. “I think everything happens for a reason and I think this team was put together for a reason and it’s been a blessing, though I so wanted to go further.

"These are going to be some of the best memories of life. Most people don't get the opportunity to do what we've done and I really feel blessed."

Nelson leaves the program No. 2 in scoring (1,543) behind Murphy and the all-time leader in steals (384) and assists (535). Nelson, Murphy and Girdley are in the top five all-time in assists.

“I’m so proud of them,” said May of his senior class. “They’ve put a lot of work in and it would’ve been nice to get one more (win). You can’t take away all they’ve accomplished and what they’ve done for the program.”

GCU shot just 25 percent (7-of-28) in the first half and made only 2-of-16 from 3-point range.

Murphy led GCU with 24 points. Butler had 16. Joslynn Frazier came off the bench to get eight rebounds. Maylinn Smith added eight points. Nelson and Kamp each had two assists. Butler had two steals.

Colson led all scorers with 28 points and was named the tournament MVP. Murphy and Butler were selected to the all-tournament team.

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