Lopes host Alcorn State in season-opener

FRIDAY, NOV. 11
7 p.m. MST \| GCU Arena \| Phoenix, Ariz.
ALCORN STATE BRAVES 0-0 (0-0 SWAC) Stats .pdf Link GAME NOTES	at	GRAND CANYON LOPES 0-0 (0-0 WAC) Stats .pdf Link GAME NOTES
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The Grand Canyon women's basketball team opens its 27th season in program history on Friday when it hosts Alcorn State at GCU Arena. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

The Lopes will embark on their 10th season under head coach Trent May and look to build off of last year's success in hopes of capturing their third winning season since joining Division I action in 2013.

Last Time Out
GCU won its lone exhibition game, 68-48, over Western State Colorado Tuesday at GCU Arena. The Lopes dominated the contest holding the Mountaineers to just 17 points in the first half. Although, WSCU rallied in the fourth quarter, the Lopes continued their offensive pressure and pulled away securing the final outcome. GCU produced a balanced offensive attack that tallied 68 points and a 20 point margin of victory. Senior forward Marina Laramie recorded a double-double with 19 point and 11 rebounds. She was a big reason why GCU outscored the Mountaineers, 24-14, in the paint. The Lopes balanced that inside effort with nine 3-pointers.

GCU STARTING FIVE

GCU will open the season at home for the fifth straight year and are currently 1-3 in home openers.
The Lopes will have plenty of new faces on the court this season as they welcome eight newcomers, including six transfers.
GCU was picked to finish third in the Western Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches and Media Poll this season. GCU produced a 8-6 record a year ago and finished the season tied for third in the conference.
They Lopes return redshirt junior Jessica Gajewski who was recently named the Preseason All-Western Athletic Conference First Team following last year's performance. Gajewski led GCU in scoring with a total of 384 points and averaged 12.4 points per game. She also boasted the fifth-highest scoring mark in the conference. She also averaged 2.2 three pointers per game and ranked third in the WAC in the category.
The Lopes were second in the WAC in rebounding defense a year ago with 36.5 rebounds per game.

Alcorn State Notables
The Braves will tip-off its 2016-17 season under second year head coach Courtney Pruitt. Alcorn State went 11-19 a year ago including a 8-10 mark in the Southeastern Athletic Conference. Henreitta Wells returns as the Braves top blocker and was named to the Preseason All-SWAC First Team at the center position. Wells averaged 2.9 blocks per game last season that ranked second in the conference. The pair will meet for the first time in program history on Friday.

Up Next

GCU will open its road slate at Duke on Thursday, Nov. 17 at the legendary Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Lopes and Bluedevils tip-off at 5 p.m. MST.

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Players Mentioned

Jessica Gajewski

Marina Laramie

Grand Canyon University Athletics