GCU Completes Comeback Against UC Irvine

Monday, December 14

Irvine, Calif.

8 p.m.

Grand Canyon

5-6

UC Irvine

3-6

Grand Canyon

UC Irvine

12/14/2015 10:32:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Steven Gonzalez

IRVINE – After nearly one month on the road, the Grand Canyon women's basketball team concluded its eight-game roadtrip in Irvine, Calif. with a matchup against UC Irvine. The Antelopes were down six points heading into the fourth quarter and the Lopes refused to quit outscoring the Anteaters 23-12 in the fourth quarter to complete the 58-53 come from behind victory. GCU is now 5-6 this season and are currently riding a three-game winning streak.

Dana Jones recorded her first career double-double with a team-high 14 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. This season, UC Irvine averages 39 rebounds a game as a team and GCU was able to limit the Anteaters to 32 rebounds while pulling down 49 boards.

"This was a well deserved win tonight," head coach Trent May said. "We had a lot to overcome starting off the day with two players in urgent care. We did a good job of handling some tough odds during the game."

GCU couldn't have asked for a better start to the game, going on an 8-2 run from tipoff. The Lopes would hold a slim 17-14 lead after the first quarter. After GCU held a lead after the first quarter, the Anteaters would outscore the Lopes by nine points to go into halftime with a 31-25 lead. The GCU starters combined for 21 of the 25 points scored by GCU in the first half led by Jones with six points and six rebounds.

The Lopes struggled to find an offensive rhythm in the third quarter, scoring 10 points but their defense kept them in the game, holding UCI to just 10 points as well to go into the final quarter trailing UCI 41-35. Grand Canyon was able to make adjustments going into the fourth quarter and showed a lot of toughness scoring 23 points in the final quarter while limiting UC Irvine to just 12 points.

Zelor Massaquoi would tie the game with four minutes left in the game by grabbing an offensive rebound and the put back tied the game at 46. With 1:33 left in the game, the senior Courtney Hayes stepped up when her team needed to with a three-pointer to give GCU the 51-49 lead, their first lead of the second half. Grand Canyon would never relinquish the lead as GCU converted 7-8 free-throws in the final minute to come away with the victory.

Hayes stepped up in the second half shooting 50 percent, scoring 12 points and as a team GCU pulled down eight offensive rebounds in the second half that created 12 second chance points. UC Irvine averages 58.9 points per game and the Lopes were able to hold them to 53 points.

"We certainly were not getting any calls being on the road and I am proud of our maturity to not let it get to us," May said. "This was definitely a mature win and gutsy performance. I am proud of the girls and proud of our staff."

Trent May and his squad will finally head back home after eight road games to play in front of its fans for the first time since Nov. 19 when they face Southern Alabama on Saturday, Dec. 19, at GCU Arena.