PHOENIX -- The Lopes have won back-to-back games for the first time this season, coming off of road wins over Air Force (Dec. 5) and North Dakota State (Dec. 8). Grand Canyon looks to win its third consecutive road game, something the Lopes did just once last season.
Reigning WAC Player of the Week,
Jessica Gajewski, took a step in the right direction for a chance to repeat the award, scoring a career-high 28 points at North Dakota State on Tuesday. The redshirt sophomore has scored in double figures in the last four contests, including a 27 and 28-point performance in the team's last two games. Her scoring average has increased from 5.2 points per game to 11.1 points per game.
After scoring over 70 points just once in the first seven games, the Lopes have scored over 70 in the last three contests (71, 73, 76). Grand Canyon is coming off of its best offensive quarter of basketball, tying a season-high with 24 points in the final period at North Dakota State. The Lopes turned a tie game after three quarters into a fairly comfortable victory, topping the Bison by nine points. Grand Canyon shot nearly 50 percent (16-for-33, 48.5 percent) in the second half at NDSU.
The Lopes trip to Irvine, Calif. will mark the end of a full month away from GCU Arena. Grand Canyon is 2-5 in this current stretch of home games after beginning the year with a 2-1 record at home. Following Monday's game, GCU is home for the next five games. The Lopes host South Alabama, Northern Colorado, San Diego Christian, UC Riverside and Arizona Christian, with three games airing on the GCU Radio Network (1010AM KXXT). Following GCU's five-game home stand, the Lopes begin Western Athletic Conference (WAC) play at Texas-Rio Grande Valley on Jan. 7.
THE ALL-TIME SERIESGrand Canyon vs. UC Irvine - The two schools will meet for the first time.
COMMON OPPONENTSSan Diego Christian (vs. UCI 12/12, vs. GCU 12/30), Cal State Bakersfield (vs. UCI 1/3, vs. GCU 1/28 & 2/25),
UC Riverside (vs. UCI 1/7 & 3/3), Hawai'i (vs. UCI 1/21 & 1/30, vs. GCU 11/13: L 41-74).
SCOUTING UC IRVINEBefore Grand Canyon travels to Irvine, Calif., UC Irvine will face San Diego Christian. The Anteaters snapped a four-game losing streak this past weekend with a win at home against Nevada. UC Irvine recently faced in-state school, Northern Arizona, and suffered a 71-55 loss at home. UCI is led by Raelyn Cheung-Sutton with 9.1 points per game but right behind her is Mokun Fajemisin at nine points per contest and a team-high 9.1 rebounds a game. UC Irvine averages 56.1 points per game while allowing 75.4 points to its opponents.
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