No. 18 Women's Hoops Wins PacWest Opener Over Hawai'i Hilo

Monday, December 3

GCU Arena

4:30 PM

Grand Canyon

6-2, 1-0

Hawai'i Hilo

2-4, 0-2

Hawai'i Hilo

Grand Canyon

Justine Johnson

Photo by: Theon Carrier

No. 18 Women's Hoops Wins PacWest Opener Over Hawai'i Hilo

12/3/2012 6:36:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Victory marks 11th straight against Vulcans

The 18^th-ranked Grand Canyon University women’s basketball team defeated visiting Hawai’i Hilo, 71-47, tonight at GCU Arena. The win was the fifth straight for the Antelopes, who improved to 6-2 overall and 1-0 in Pacific West Conference play. The Vulcans fell to 2-4 overall and 0-2 in the conference.

GCU has now won their past 11 games against the Vulcans.

Click here for postgame reaction from head coach Trent May.
Click here for postgame reaction from junior Justine Johnson.

Judy Jones recorded her third straight double-double as she collected 19 points and 13 rebounds, the latter of which marked a new season-high. Maylinn Smith scored in double-digits for the seventh time in GCU’s eight games this season, recording 10 in the contest, and Jenna Pearson also added 10 points, eight of which came in the second half.

The ‘Lopes outrebounded Hilo by a margin of 45-25 and posted an impressive 87.5 percent free throw percentage (14-for-16). GCU, aided by a 55.6 percent (15-for-27) mark in the second half, finished the contest with a 41.9 field goal percentage (26-for-62), while Hilo posted a 17-for-48 mark (35.4 percent).

Hilo drained 11 of their 22 shots in the first half (50 percent), while the ‘Lopes shot 31.4 percent (11-for-35) from the field. Jones was the high-scorer for GCU at the half with 10 points, and also led all rebounders with nine boards.

GCU held an advantage in rebounds, 23-15, as they limited the Vulcans to just two offensive boards in the first half.

Hilo got on the board first, but that would be their lone lead of the contest. GCU led by as many as six early in the game, then used a 6-0 run to build a 19-11 lead with just over nine minutes to play in the half. The ‘Lopes retained an eight-point lead for most of the half as the two teams traded baskets until the Vulcans had an 8-2 run to pull within two points at 26-24 with 3:31 on the clock.

GCU would reclaim a six-point lead before Hilo once again made it a two point game (32-30) with 1.7 seconds in the half.

Justine Johnson opened the second half with a three-pointer, which sparked a 7-0 run as GCU built a 39-30 lead in the first two minutes. GCU’s defense allowed just five Vulcan points in the first 10 minutes of the final half as they outscored Hilo 23-5 in that time.

The ‘Lopes built a 20-point lead (57-37) with just over eight minutes to play and extended it to as many as 30 points as time ran out on the clock before Hilo scored the final six points of the game.

The ‘Lopes will next be in action when they host Chaminade on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. at GCU Arena. Fans can follow the action live by visiting www.gculopes.com.

GCU 71, UHH 47