Touchard Scores Career-Best 27 in Win At UTPA

Thursday, February 19

Edinburg, TX

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

11-12, 5-5WAC

Texas-Pan American

15-12, 7-4WAC

Grand Canyon

Texas-Pan American

August Touchard had a career-high 27 points in Thursday's win at UTPA.

Photo by: Darryl Webb

2/19/2015 8:17:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Grand Canyon went on a 12-0 run in the first half and never looked back in a 75-63 victory over Texas-Pan American at UTPA Fieldhouse in Edinburg, Tex., Thursday.

The win evened the Lopes Western Athletic Conference record at 5-5 and got the club one-win closer to .500 at 11-12 overall. UTPA, who came into the game second in the WAC, dropped to 15-12 and 7-4. GCU swept the two-game season series with the Broncs and have won three straight against its WAC rivals.

Sophomore guard August Touchard scored a career-high 27 points. It was the most by a Lopes player this season and the most by a player since Deanna Daniels scored 27 against the Broncs on March 8, 2014 at Antelope Gymnasium. Touchard had 10 of the 12 points during the first-half run that saw the Lopes turn a 21-13 deficit into a 25-21 lead. UTPA was able to tie the score, but the Lopes finished the first half with a 10-3 rally and never trailed again.

"August has had some big moments in her career and tonight she played with a big heart and great confidence. She had a "can't be denied" mentality," said GCU coach Trent May.

Touchard hit 4-of-7 from three-point range. The Lopes shot .421 (8-of-19) from long distance and .453 (24-of-53) on all field goals. Casey Rarrick finished with 15 points, 13 in the second half. Point guard Courtney Hayes tied a career-high with 11 rebounds and added seven assists – one shy of tying her career-best -- and seven points. Cheyenne Hedrington grabbed 11 boards and added eight points. Astrea Reed and Jessica Gajewski each scored seven. Reed had all seven in the second half. Gajewski had five in the late first-half run.

"Proud of the players, coaches and our toughness tonight! We played 40 minutes with a "want it" mentality. Defense is a strength of our team and the players did such a good job with the execution that the coaches game-planned for," added May.

The Lopes held the Broncs to just .302 percent (19-of-63) from the field and only .281 (9-of-32) in the second half.

GCU takes on New Mexico State in Las Cruces Saturday at 2 p.m. The game is being carried live on Fox Sports Arizona-Plus, ESPN3 and the WAC Digital Network.

GCU 75, UTPA 63