Lopes roll Alcorn State 77-44 in season-opener

Friday, November 11

Phoenix, Ariz.

7:00 P.M.

Grand Canyon

Alcorn State

11/11/2016 9:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Imani Suber

PHOENIX – The Grand Canyon women's basketball team defeated Alcorn State, 77-44, to open the season. Led by Casey Rarrick's 20 points, the Lopes shot 12-of-20 from the 3-point line. Rarrick, Laura Marcos-Canedo (16) and Jessica Gajewski (15) combined for 51 of GCU's 77 points.

How it Happened
The Lopes opened the first half of the season in style putting up 40 points through a pair of quarters. GCU dominated on both sides of the court shooting 56 percent from the field (14-25). Marcos-Canedo, Rarrick and Marina Laramie accounted for 29 of GCU's 40 points in the first half. GCU stifling defense held the Braves to just 6-of-20 from the field.

To start the game, Laramie scored the first field goal of the 2016-17 campaign to claim the early lead over Alcorn State. Marcos-Canedo banked the first 3-pointer of the season and drew a foul in the process and put the Lopes up 10-4 with under six minutes left in the opening quarter.

The Lopes closed out the first quarter posting 21 points and held Alcorn State to just eight. Laramie and Marcos-Canedo accounted for all of GCU's first quarter points.

With two minutes to go in the first half, August Touchard scored her first shot since returning from injury, extending GCU's lead to 35-17. Rarrick, who also returned to court after sitting out last year due to injury, returned in style with back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Lopes up and end the half with a 40-22 advantage.

In the second half, the Lopes let it rain 3-pointers, hitting 8-of-6 from beyond the arc. In the fourth, Rarrick sunk four 3-pointers helping the Lopes go 12-of-24 shooting from the 3-point line during the game.

The Lopes' defense also shined on the court, holding the Braves to just 13-of-50 (.26) shooting from the field. Alcorn State took advantage of GCU fouls as they totaled 13 of their 44 points from the line. the Lopes defense also produced 26 Brave turnovers.

Lopes Quotes
Head Coach Trent May
"Very pleased with the outcome of the season-opening game. We had a great crowd and there were a lot little things to celebrate. You have August Touchard and Casey Rarrick, who were looking to have big seasons last year, but taken from the game due to injury. So it was a special to see them make an impact on the floor after working so hard to get back on the court. It was also a great night for our newcomers who are doing a great job. It was just good to see Laura (Marcos-Canedo) really have an explosive game and Marina (Laramie) does a great job at battles and she really had a solid game."

Lopes Notes

Freshman Vanessa Murphy made her Lopes debut in the first quarter, she played 14 quality minutes, picking up six rebounds.
Laramie and Marcos-Canedo accounted for all of GCU's first quarter points with Laramie netting six and Marcos-Canedo knocking down 12.
GCU went 28-of-62 shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 12-of-24 (.50) from 3-point range.
The Lopes held Alcorn State to 22 points and 30 percent in the first.
In the first half, Marcos-Canedo led the team with 15 points, shooting 4-of-6.
In the first half, Casey Rarrick, Laramie and Marcos-Canedo combined for 29 of GCU's 40 points.
Rarrick knocked down six 3-pointers including back-to-back 3-point shots in the fourth quarter.
GCU knocked down five 3-pointers in the fourth quarter alone.
GCU's 12 three 3-pointers surpassed its season-high of nine a season ago.