Jones scores career high in win over Arizona Christian

Monday, January 4

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

8-8

Arizona Christian

9-6

ACU

Grand Canyon

Jones scores career high in win over Arizona Christian

1/4/2016 9:23:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Josh Hauser

PHOENIX – The Grand Canyon Antelopes put a wrap on their non-conference schedule with a convincing 87-54 win over Arizona Christian at GCU Arena on Monday night. The Lopes closed the non-conference portion of their schedule with an 8-8 record, one game better than their record last season.

Dana Jones shattered her previous career high of 18 points by scoring 29 in Monday's game on 12-for-19 shooting. Courtney Hayes (17 points), Jessica Gajewski (15 points) and Zelor Massaquoi (10 points) also logged double-digit scoring efforts as Grand Canyon set a new season-high in points scored. It was the most points scored for GCU since also recording 87 points in a win over San Diego Christian on Jan. 3, 2015.

The visiting Firestorm managed to stay even with the Lopes for the majority of the first period. Arizona Christian converted on six free throws in the first quarter to trail GCU by just one point with 1:37 remaining. Grand Canyon, however, used a quick 8-0 stretch to end the first period on a high note and snatch the momentum heading into the second period.

While the offense carried the Lopes through the opening quarter, Grand Canyon relied on its defense to limit ACU to eight points in the second quarter. Massaquoi hit a pull-up jumper as time expired in the first half to grant the Lopes their largest lead thus far at 40-23.

Arizona Christian put its best foot forward in the third quarter, outscoring GCU 21-20 in the period. The Firestorm knocked down 4 of their 6 three-point attempts in the period to keep the game interesting.

The Lopes restored order in the fourth quarter. Grand Canyon scored a season-high 27 points in the final period while limiting Arizona Christian to just 10 points. GCU made use of a stifling full-court press that forced the Firestorm into nine fourth-quarter turnovers.

Grand Canyon's fourth-quarter lead grew as large as 36 points before settling for a 33-point victory.

Despite Jones leading Grand Canyon in scoring, Hayes put together an extremely efficient final line of 17 points to go along with 9 assists, 7 rebounds, 5 steals and 4 assists.

The Lopes complete their 16-game non-conference slate and now shift into Western Athletic Conference play. GCU will head out on to the road for its first three WAC contests, starting with a trip to Texas-Rio Grande Valley and New Mexico State. Grand Canyon plays UTRGV on Thursday, Jan. 7 at 6:00 p.m. before playing NMSU on Saturday, Jan. 9 at 2:00 p.m.