Women's Hoops Wins Ninth Straight

Monday, February 11

Belmont, CA

6:30 PM

Grand Canyon

20-4 (12-1)

Notre Dame de Namur

3-18 (2-11)

GCU-WBB

Notre Dame de Namur University

Deanna Daniels

Photo by: Darryl Webb

2/11/2013 9:36:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Defeats NDNU to improve to 2-0 on four-game road trip

The No. 13 Grand Canyon University women’s basketball team defeated Notre Dame de Namur, 73-28, tonight in Belmont, Calif. The win was the ninth straight for the Antelopes, who improved to 20-4 overall and 12-1 in Pacific West Conference play, while the Argonauts fell to 3-18 overall and 2-11 in the conference.

Click here for postgame audio from head coach Trent May.

The victory pushed the 'Lopes to the 20-win mark for the third consecutive season.

The 28 points allowed marked a season-low and the fewest since an 85-20 win versus Southwestern on Jan. 21, 2006. The 45-point victory margin marked the second-most for the ‘Lopes this season, as they defeated Northern New Mexico by 48 points on Dec. 30, 2012 (86-38).

GCU shot 43.1 percent (28-for-65) for the game and made nearly half of their three-point attempts (5-for-11). As they have done all season, the 'Lopes were strong on the boards, pulling down 50 rebounds compared to 31 for the Argonauts, holding true to their number one ranking for rebound margin among all Division II teams. It was the sixth time this season that GCU has collected at least 50 rebounds.

Judy Jones recorded her 15th double-double of the season with a team-high 16 points and 10 rebounds. Three other 'Lopes players scored in double-figures: Maylinn Smith with 13, Jenna Pearson with 11 and Deanna Daniels with 10.

The ‘Lopes continued their hot shooting as they made their first three shots to build an early 6-0 lead in the first three minutes. GCU held the Argonauts scoreless for nearly six minutes as they extended their lead to 12-0 before allowing the first Notre Dame point with 14:34 on the clock.

GCU kept firing over the next seven minutes as their defense held Notre Dame scoreless in that time en route to a 27-1 advantage with just under eight minutes remaining. The ‘Lopes allowed just 10 more points to the Argonauts for the remainder of the half as they carried a 38-11 lead into the locker room. The 11 points matched their lowest allowed in the first half this season, also doing so on Dec. 30, 2012 against Northern New Mexico.

GCU shot 48.4 percent from the field (15-for-31) in the first 20 minutes led by Jones with 10 points. Smith and Daniels added seven points apiece. The ‘Lopes amassed five blocks and eight steals while holding Notre Dame to a 4.2 field goal percentage (1-for-24) as nine of their 11 points came from the free throw line.

Notre Dame went basket-for-basket with GCU to open the second half before the ‘Lopes went on a 16-2 run to build a 60-19 lead with 10:24 remaining in the game. The final half of the second 20 minutes saw a great defensive effort from the 'Lopes as they did not allow Notre Dame to score for the final five and a half minutes and scored the final 10 points in the game.

GCU made 13 of their 34 attempted shots (38.2 percent) in the second half, draining four three-pointers in that time.

The ‘Lopes are halfway through with their Northern California road trip, with two games remaining before returning home for two. GCU will take on Academy of Art on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. (Arizona time). Fans can follow the action live by visiting www.gculopes.com.

GCU 73, NDNU 28