No. 11 'Lopes Improve to 6-0 on the Road with 74-51 Win at BYU-Hawai'i

Saturday, January 28

Laie, HI

8 p.m.

Grand Canyon

14-2, 6-2

BYU-Hawaii

3-13, 2-6

Grand Canyon

BYU-Hawaii

Erica Paskell had nine points in GCU's 74-51 win at BYU-Hawai'i.

No. 11 'Lopes Improve to 6-0 on the Road with 74-51 Win at BYU-Hawai'i

1/28/2012 9:27:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

The No. 11 Grand Canyon University women’s basketball team defeated BYU-Hawai’i, 74-51, tonight in Laie, Hawai’i. With the win, the Antelopes improved to 14-2 overall and 6-2 in Pacific West Conference play. The ‘Lopes also improved to 6-0 on the road and have won 13 straight regular season road contests dating back to last season. The Seasiders fell to 3-13 overall, 2-6 in the conference.

Additionally, GCU has won 17 consecutive games in Hawai’i, dating back to the 2007-08 season, and are now 12-1 all-time against BYU-Hawai'i.

“We did a really good job of speeding up the game on their end,” said head coach Trent May. “They like to play slower and didn’t like the pressure we put on them. That gave them a lot of problems tonight.”

GCU outrebounded their opponent, 44-32, for the 15^th time and improved to 13-2 in those contests. The ‘Lopes shot 42.4 percent from the field and forced 33 turnovers from BYU-Hawai’i.

Jallisa Butler scored a career-high 21 points, surpassing her previous high of 20 points which she accomplished twice before, last on Dec. 11, 2010 vs. Cal State Stanislaus. She went 9-for-12 from the field and also led the team with nine rebounds. Joslynn Frazier matched her season-high with 10 points for the second time. Maylinn Smith chipped in with 13 points and Erica Paskell added nine points.

“We knew we could probably get a lot of passes inside and as the defense shifts, look down low,” explained May. “We did a good job of finding the open person in the paint tonight.”

GCU opened the first half on a 9-4 run over the game’s first four minutes before the Seasiders tied the game at 14 with under 12 minutes remaining. The ‘Lopes then went on a 13-0 run to extend their lead to 27-14 at the eight-minute mark.

GCU held BYU-Hawai’i scoreless for almost four minutes before the Seasiders scored two points via free throws with 7:58 remaining in the first half. The two teams then traded baskets for the remainder of the half with neither producing more than a four-point run.

The ‘Lopes led by as many as 16 points, including a 45-29 margin at the half, in the first period after shooting 50.0 percent (19-for-38) from the field, including a 4-for-9 mark from three-point line.

Butler led the ‘Lopes into the locker room with 15 points, while Smith went a perfect 3-for-3 from behind the arc in the first half.

The Seasiders opened the second half by converting a three-point play at the 18:11 mark, but the ‘Lopes used a 6-0 run to extend their lead to 19 points at 51-32. GCU once again held the Seasiders to a scoreless drought of about five minutes before BYU-Hawai’i sank two free throws with 13 and a half minutes remaining in the half. Those two free throws opened a 6-0 rally for the Seasiders as they pulled within 13 points, 51-38, with just over 12 minutes to play, the closest they would come for the remainder of the game.

Following the Seasiders’ run, GCU responded with their own 8-0 stretch to take a 21 point lead, 59-38, with 9:33 remaining in the final period. The ‘Lopes would go on to lead by as many as 25 points as they outscored the Seasiders, 29-22, in the second half.

“We wanted to come out with a victory tonight and we did that,” May added. “But we still need to come out better in our next game.”

The ‘Lopes will next be in action when they play continue their Hawaiian swing at Chaminade on Jan. 30. Tipoff is slated for 8 p.m. Arizona time.

“You have to get as much rest as possible on these long trips,” said May. “We were fortunate to be able to play a lot of girls tonight. Mental preparation each and every day is the key because it is imperative to keep them mentally sharp. These trips can be a grind.”

GCU 74, BYUH 51