GCU Suffers Loss to UC Riverside

Saturday, January 2

Phoenix, Ariz.

4 p.m.

Grand Canyon

7-8

UC Riverside

7-7

UCR

Grand Canyon

1/2/2016 6:07:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Steven Gonzalez

PHOENIX – The Grand Canyon women's basketball team continued its homestand to wrap up non-conference with a matchup against UC Riverside. Reigning Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week Jessica Gajewski recorded her third straight double-digit scoring game with 23 points but the Antelopes fell to the Highlanders 85-67. GCU is now 7-8 this season.

Courtney Hayes came close to a double-double with 15 points, nine assists, three rebounds and two steals.

"Pound-for-pound that is the best team we have faced all season," head coach Trent May said. "Over the course of a game you want to learn and at halftime we told our players that if they want to learn how to cut to the basket then they need to watch their defender. I am proud of how hard our women fought until the very end."

Gajewski continued her hot shooting from the field, shooting 3-3 from the three-point line to start the game. Gajewski would reach double-digits in the first half scoring 13 points but UC Riverside was able to score 20-plus points in the first two quarters to jump out to a 47-27 lead. The Highlanders used their size to their advantage outscoring GCU 26-8 in the paint in the first 20 minutes. GCU was effective from the three-point arch shooting 44.4 percent in the first half.

GCU came out in the third scoring 19 points, tying for the most points scored in a third quarter for the Lopes this season. Hayes picked up her scoring in the third quarter with four points along with three assists and a rebound.

The Highlanders continued to look to Rejane Verin and Brittany Crain as they combined for 40 of UCR's 85 points. GCU continued to battle until the end of the game and the Lopes would outscore UC Riverside 21-13 in the fourth quarter. Joining Gajewski in double-digits for GCU was Hayes with 15 points and Cheyenne Hedrington adding 13 points.

"She (Gajewski) may be our lone threat on the outside and yet she continues to get it done," May said. "She is a warrior and continues to play her game and as a result she is shooting the ball very well."

The Lopes will wrap up its non-conference schedule on Monday, Jan. 4, as they welcome in-state opponent Arizona Christian to town. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at GCU Arena.