GCU Makes It Two In-A-Row After Win Over NDSU

Tuesday, December 8

Fargo, N.D.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

4-6

North Dakota State

2-6

Grand Canyon

North Dakota State

12/8/2015 9:47:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Steven Gonzalez

FARGO, N.D. – As the roadtrip continued for the Grand Canyon women's basketball team, the women faced North Dakota State. As the Lopes traveled to a frigid 30 degrees in Fargo, N.D. the Lopes were hot offensively scoring 76 points led by Jessica Gajewski as GCU defeated the Bison 76-67. GCU is now on a two-game winning streak on the road and is now 4-6 this season.

"A tough, gritty win tonight," head coach Trent May said. "The game was close throughout and a couple of transition baskets in the middle of the fourth quarter gave us momentum with just enough cushion for the win."

Reigning WAC Player of the Week, Gajewski, continued her hot streak, scoring 16 points in the first half, shooting 50 percent from the floor. Every starter for GCU scored in the first half while outscoring North Dakota State 16-12 in the paint. Grand Canyon crashed the boards in the first 20 minutes of play, outrebounding the Bison 23-16. Taylor Thunstedt led NDSU in the first half with 11 points but GCU was able to into halftime with the 33-32 lead after Devyn Edwards' layup in the final 20 seconds of the second quarter.

Grand Canyon continued attacking offensively in the third quarter, scoring 19 points while shooting 44.4 percent from the field. Gajewski continued scoring, dropping seven points in the third quarter but the Bison outscored the Lopes by two points to tie the game at 52 to head into the final quarter.

The Lopes scored four quick points to start the fourth quarter to take a 56-52 lead and GCU was able to hold onto a four-point lead throughout the final quarter but North Dakota State went on a 7-0 run to close the lead to 60-59. With 4:20 left in the game, Courtney Hayes converted a layup to put GCU up 64-61 and GCU locked down defensively not allowing North Dakota State to score from the 5:11 mark until 2:08 left in the game.

Courtney Hayes had another all-around solid performance scoring 16 points, 10 rebounds and once again led the team in assists with 10. Cheyenne Hedrington was the third Antelope to reach double-figures, scoring 10 points along with a team high eight rebounds. Dana Jones was the fourth Lope to score double-digits with 10 while pulling down six rebounds.

"I liked our mental composure and game management to get a tough road win," May said. "We were not going to get any calls down the stretch and we weathered their run. I liked our players resolve tonight."

Gajewski would shoot 50 percent for the entire game as she went 12-24 and as a team the Lopes closed out the game strong on offense, shooting 48.5 percent from the floor. GCU's defense picked up as the game went along; North Dakota State shot 43.1 percent in the first half and in the second half they allowed the Bison to shoot just 36.4 percent from the floor.

The Lopes will close out their eight-game roadtrip this upcoming Monday, Dec. 14, in California to take on UC Irvine.