Champions, Again!

Saturday, March 5

Honolulu, HI

3:00 p.m.

Grand Canyon

27-2, 15-1

Hawai'i Pacific

18-7, 12-4

GCU-WBB

Hawai'i Pacific

2011 Pacific West Conference Champions

3/5/2011 7:11:25 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

GCU headed to NCAA tournament for second time in three years

By: Steve Heath

This was no time to share.

Already owning a portion of the Pacific West Conference title, Grand Canyon’s women’s basketball team grabbed the rest for itself Saturday.

For the fourth time in five years, GCU won the outright league crown. It did it with a 72-65 win over Hawai’i Pacific at McCabe Gym in Honolulu Saturday.

“There was so much disappointment last year. We felt we had a chance and we fell short,” said GCU coach Trent May of the team missing out on the 2010 title. “It’s great to share things, but not championships. I’m very proud of the girls and to bring back the championship to Grand Canyon.”

Grand Canyon, ranked eighth nationally in the USA Today/ESPN Division II Top 25 Coaches’ Poll and No. 3 in the NCAA West Region, upped its record-setting season mark to 27-2. After losing the conference opener at Dixie State, Grand Canyon won its final 15 games. The ‘Lopes are 74-10 in the PacWest.

With the conference championship, the Antelopes are the first team to claim an official spot into the NCAA West Region.

NCAA.com will have a live video feed of the NCAA II Selection Show at 7:30 p.m. MT Sunday.

Winners of the California Collegiate Athletic Association and Great Northwest Athletic Conference tournaments, to be played later Saturday, will also earn automatic bids. A selection committee will chose the five remaining teams – from the three conferences – to round out the regional tournament field.

Senior All-America candidate Samantha Murphy, the nation’s leading scorer, led all scorers Saturday with 23 points. Freshman Maylinn Smith had 19 points, one shy of her season high. Jallisa Butler had nine points and nine rebounds. Murphy added five assists and two steals.

Trailing 30-29 at halftime, Grand Canyon went on a 21-5 run to start the final 20 minutes of the regular season. During the stretch, seven different players contributed points.

HPU rallied to get the lead down to five points, 66-61 with one minute to go, but Smith and Murphy hit free throws down the stretch to clinch the win and the outright crown.

“It means a lot, especially my senior year,” said Murphy of the latest team championship. “The team played great today and everyone stepped up.”

In the first half, the teams traded 12-0 runs. Grand Canyon led 13-12, after two Smith free throws, but the Sea Warriors answered with the next 12 points. GCU followed with the next 12. The Antelopes ended a 4:20 cold spell with a Smith jumper. She and Murphy each had four points during the run. Stevie Kamp added a pair of free throws and Butler put GCU up 25-24 after an offensive rebound.

For senior Rosalyn Nelson, who missed last season due to an injury, it was her fourth championship.

“It feels good,” she said. “All four teams are special, but this team is extra special.”

Grand Canyon will know its opponent Sunday. First-round regional games are scheduled for Friday with semifinals Saturday and championship on Monday.

Box Score