No. 11 'Lopes Fall to Hawai'i Pacific

Tuesday, January 24

GCU Arena

4:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

13-2, 5-2

Hawai'i Pacific

11-7, 5-3

Hawaii Pacific

Grand Canyon

Maylinn Smith scored a team-high 18 points on Jan. 24 vs. Hawai'i Pacific.

1/24/2012 5:43:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

The No. 11 Grand Canyon University women’s basketball team snapped their season-high nine game win streak with a 70-59 loss tonight to Hawai’i Pacific. The Antelopes are now 13-2 overall and 5-2 in PacWest conference play. Hawai’i Pacific improved to 11-7 and 5-3 in the conference.

“I have to give a lot of credit to Hawai’i Pacific, they came in and really did what they wanted to do,” said head coach Trent May. “They spent a lot of time tonight getting us out of our comfort zone a bit and they really competed. It’s tough to lose at home.”

The ‘Lopes shot 33.8 percent from the field, led by Maylinn Smith's 18 points, the 14^th time this season she has reached the double-digit scoring mark. Jenna Pearson chipped in with 13 points and Angelina Dennison added 11 points, while Jallisa Butler led the team with 12 rebounds. The Sea Warriors shot 46.0 percent (23-for-50) from the field, the highest percentage against GCU this season, including a 50.0 percent mark from the three-point line (9-for-18). Hawai’i Pacific also shot 93.8 percent (15-for-16) from the free-throw line.

“Maylinn is doing a good job on the floor and she makes good plays,” said May. “She really tries to rally the troops. But sometimes you need more than one.”

The ‘Lopes also outrebounded their opponent for the 14^th time, 44-31.

The Sea Warriors took a quick 6-2 lead in the first minute of the game before the ‘Lopes used a 10-4 run to take a 14-10 advantage into the first media timeout. The two teams then exchanged baskets, with neither leading by more than four points, in a half that saw six different lead changes and seven different tied scores. GCU went into the half trailing, 35-33, the first time this season they have not taken a lead into the locker room.

Smith and Pearson led the ‘Lopes with eight points apiece after the first period as the ‘Lopes shot 40.6 percent (13-for-32) from the field, including a 3-for-8 (37.5 percent) mark from behind the arc. The Sea Warriers went 4-for-7 (57.1 percent) from the three-point line in the first half as they outshot GCU with a 46.4 field goal percentage (13-for-28).

“As a team we are still understanding that you have to play the full 40 minutes,” May said. “We did a good job of that early in the season. We have to be ready to attack and ready in every situation. You can’t let the other team be the aggressor, as we did tonight.”

Hawai’i Pacific opened the second half with an 8-0 run, all of which were scored by Mana Hopkins, to take a 43-33 lead with just over 17 minutes left. The Sea Warriors led by as many 14 points in the second half as they shot 45.5 percent and outscored the ‘Lopes 35-26. Hopkins finished with a game-high 25 points.

“I think we had a lot of opportunities to make plays,” added May. “The film is really going to tell how many easy put-backs we missed. We expected the game to come to us tonight instead of going to get the game. But I know this team, and I know they are a really resilient bunch and are very excited for what we still have remaining on our schedule. We will give a great effort every night and put the little details together. We’ll be fine.”

The ‘Lopes will next be in action when they embark on a four-game Hawaiian road trip, beginning with a contest against BYU-Hawai’i on Jan. 28 with tipoff slated for 8 p.m. Arizona time.

GCU 59, HPU 70