No. 15 'Lopes Rebound with Win over Point Loma

Saturday, January 5

San Diego, CA

2:00 PM

Grand Canyon

12-4, 4-1PWC

Point Loma

4-6, 2-2PWC

Grand Canyon

Point Loma

Cindy Ekweozor and Deanna Daniels

Photo by: Darryl Webb

1/5/2013 3:46:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Improve to 4-1 in PacWest play, 12-4 overall on the season

The No. 15 Grand Canyon University women’s basketball team defeated Point Loma, 63-49, today in San Diego, Calif., to improve their overall record to 12-4 and their Pacific West Conference record to 4-1. The loss gave the Sea Lions a 4-6 overall record and 2-2 mark in conference play.

Postgame reaction from head coach Trent May can be viewed here.

GCU shot 30.8 percent from the field in the contest (20-for-65), led by a season-high 13 point performance by Chigozie Ekweozor. Maylinn Smith added 11 points for the ‘Lopes, while Justine Johnson chipped in with nine points.

The ‘Lopes were once again stronger on the boards, grabbing 54 rebounds compared to 31 for Point Loma, allowing GCU to score 17 second chance points.

Both teams struggled from the field in the first half, as GCU posted a 22.9 percent mark (8-for-35), but were aided by going 4-for-8 from behind the arc in the first 20 minutes. The Sea Lions saw a little more success from the field with a 29.6 field goal percentage (8-for-27). The ‘Lopes held an advantage in second chance points, 8-3, by virtue of outrebounding Point Loma, 29-19.

Johnson led the squad at the half with six points, followed by Judy Jones with five and Ekweozor with four.

GCU took an early 6-0 lead over the game’s first three minutes and saw their first double-digit lead when Erica Paskell made a three-pointer to hand the ‘Lopes a 15-4 advantage with 9:32 to play.

GCU’s defense held the Sea Lions scoreless for nearly five minutes until allowing a three-pointer with nine and a half minutes on the clock, at which time the ‘Lopes carried a 15-7 advantage. GCU saw their second double-digit lead of the half come at 17-7 following two made free throws by Jones at the 8:21 mark. Point Loma battled back to make it a two-point game, 18-16, with just under four minutes to play as they returned the favor by holding GCU scoreless for nearly four minutes.

Smith drained a three-pointer with three minutes remaining to spark a 5-0 ‘Lopes rally and extend their lead to six points. However, the Sea Lions responded with a 5-0 run of their own to pull back within two points, 23-21, with a minute remaining in the first half. For the remainder of the half, GCU outscored Point Loma 3-2 to carry a 26-23 lead into the locker room.

GCU shot much better in the final 20 minutes, posting a 40.0 percent mark from the field (12-for-30).

The ‘Lopes opened the second half on a 7-4 run, as they were 3-for-6 from the field, to force a Sea Lions timeout after nearly three minutes had been taken off the clock and GCU led 33-27. The game went back and forth over the next seven minutes, although the ‘Lopes were able to build a 38-31 lead as they held Point Loma scoreless for three and a half minutes.

The closest the Sea Lions would come for the remainder of the half was four points, as the ‘Lopes had an answer for any Point Loma run and at the 5:36 mark, once again saw a double-digit lead at 49-38. Paskell gave GCU a 12 point lead, 53-41, via a three-pointer with just over four minutes remaining. An 8-5 run handed the ‘Lopes their largest lead of the contest at 15 points, 61-46, with just under two minutes to play.

The Sea Lions would score their final points via a three-pointer with under a minute to play, while Johnson scored the final points of the contest at the free throw line.

GCU will continue part of their PacWest road schedule when they travel to take on Dixie State on Thursday, Jan. 10 at 5 p.m. Fans can follow the action live by visiting www.gculopes.com.

GCU 63, PLNU 49