Lopes Fall to Abilene Christian Despite Hot Shooting

Friday, December 4

Colorado Springs, Colo.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

2-6

vs. Abilene Christian

5-2

Abilene Christian

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Darryl Webb

12/4/2015 9:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Josh Hauser

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Grand Canyon shot a scorching 54 percent from the field and 38 percent from long distance, but the Lopes fell to Abilene Christian 75-71 in their first game of the Air Force Classic on Friday night.

It was the hottest-shooting effort for Grand Canyon as a member of the Division I ranks. The last time GCU shot better in a game was Feb. 26, 2013 – a 55.9 percent shooting performance vs. BYU-Hawai'i.

"The effort tonight was good in spurts," head coach Trent May said. "We need a more concentrated effort and to be able to sustain it. Little lapses here and there are the difference between close losses and double-digit wins."

Cheyenne Hedrington followed up her previous two performances of 26 points and 23 points with a 19-point performance vs. the Wildcats on 9-of-15 shooting. Hedrington also pulled down ten rebounds for her second double-double of the season.

Hedrington's 15th shot attempt of the night was a jumper with seven seconds left in regulation that would have tied the game. However, the shot missed and two made free throws by the Wildcats resulted in the 75-71 final score.

The Lopes jumped out of the starting gates shooting 7-for-12 in the first period and grabbing leads as big as six points. But back-to-back periods of 20 or more points for Abilene Christian resulted in a four-point deficit for GCU after three quarters.

After Jessica Gajewski connected on a three-point shot with 5:18 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Lopes regained the lead at 66-65. Grand Canyon could only muster five points in the final five minutes, however, as Abilene Christian was aided by six made free throws in the fourth.

Behind the 19-point outburst from Hedrington, Courtney Hayes (15 points) and Gajewski (13 points) also logged double-digit scoring games.

The tightly-contested nature of the game was evident as the game was tied eight times and featured seven lead changes, including a pair in the final period.

Up next for Grand Canyon is a matchup with tournament host, Air Force (0-7). The Lopes will look to take advantage of a team who is struggling to score, with the Falcons being limited to the least points per game (41.3 ppg) in Division I this season. Tip-off is set for 4:30 p.m. MT on Saturday.