Lopes defeat Denver in come back overtime win

Friday, November 25

Phoenix, Ariz.

12:00 P.M.

Grand Canyon

2-2

Denver

2-3

OT 1

DEN

Grand Canyon

11/25/2016 3:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Imani Suber

PHOENIX – The Grand Canyon women's basketball team defeated Denver in a 73-70 overtime thriller in the opening contest of the GCU Thanksgiving Classic. The Lopes climbed back from a six point deficit in overtime to claim the contest and remain undefeated at home this year.

Marina Laramie led the team with 31 points and produced a double-double performance with 10 rebounds. Zelor Massaquoi led the squad with 11 rebounds, while Aniya Baker had a team-leading six assists.

How it Happened
The Lopes offense got off to a slow start, shooting only 3-of-13 from the field with eight points in the first quarter. Rarrick in her first start of the season was responsible for four of GCU's eight points to start the day.

GCU's offense came alive before the break, shooting 50 percent from the field (7-of-14) in the second quarter as Laura Marcos-Canedo hit the Lopes first 3-pointer of the game to jump start GCU's comeback. Down 30-16 with 2:27 left in the first half, the Lopes mounted a 9-0 run to cut the Pioneer's lead to 30-25. Laramie lead all scorers with 11 points (5-11) in 19 minutes, shadowed by Rarrick's six points (2-3). On the other side, Denver's Briana Johnson led the Pioneers with six points, all from the free throw line.

After the break, the Lopes offense shot only 4-of-14 from the field in the 3rd quarter. Baker came to life as she scored nine of her 11 points in the second half. In the fourth quarter, the team's played aggressive going back-and-forth for the duration of the game. GCU went 7-for-11 with a 63.6 percent performance that left the game tied 59-59 at the end of regulation.

In overtime, the Pioneers got out to a quick 65-59 lead after a pair of 3-pointers. However, the Lopes did not back down as August Touchard hit a huge 3-pointer, drawing a foul to get the Lopes within two at 65-63. Marcos-Canedo capitalized on the Lopes momentum as she grabbed two steals which lead to a couple of quick scores in the paint by Laramie to tie the game 70-70 with 1:03 to go. With only 10.9 seconds left in the contest, Rarrick hit a clutch game-winning 3-pointer off a perfect dish from Baker to claim the contest at 73-70.

Lopes Quotes
Head Coach Trent May
(On the team's performance)
"The thing that matters most in this moment is fighting through adversity. We had two turnovers at the end of regulation and no one hung their heads. It wasn't the coaches, it was the players themselves that didn't let it get to them. That in itself helps when the players can coach each other. Tough opening quarter, went neck and neck in the second quarter another lead with them in the third, they lead in overtime. I think just staying together through all that, through all of the adversity, through all the ups and downs. When you stay together you give yourself a chance to win games and good things are going to happen."

(On F/C Marina Laramie)
"She did a really good job of keeping her composure. It's funny she feels like she scored a lot and she feels like she missed a lot, but good players keep finding out a way to do what they do well. Thank goodness she stayed in the hunt and again didn't hang her head. There's no victim's out here. Win or lose there's no victims out here. So when you don't play that role you have to do things to work together. You just do what you have to do to make an impact."

(On the importance of the win)
"If you lose this game by one, players are as quick to be reflective, it doesn't mean as much. But when you can talk about the adversity of being down, especially overtime and talked about staying together and how well you were composed. Regardless of win or lose you've got to battle and now you've got a win. But now you can use this momentum down the road, deep in the road, all year this is where we would like to be and just thankful that we pulled it out today."

Lopes Notes

The Lopes picked up their second win of the season and improve to 2-2.
GCU secured its first overtime victory and remain a perfect 2-0 in GCU Arena.
GCU shot 42.6 percent from the field with a 50.0 performance in the second and a 63.6 percent mark in the fourth.
The Lopes forced seven Denver turnovers in the third quarter and produced seven points to take the lead.
Laramie claimed a season high and team high with 31 points on the day. She also tied a career high with the total.
She led the Lopes in points for the third-straight contest.
Lamarie posted her second double-double of the year with 31 points and 10 rebounds.
Baker reached a season-high with 11 points.
Baker had a team-leading six assists.
Zelor Massaquoi had a team-leading 11 rebounds and collected a season-high in the process.
The Lopes recorded a season-high 41 rebounds against Denver.