Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball at South Carolina on November 3, 2025 at TBA
W Basketball
TBA
at South Carolina
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Saturday, November 26
Phoenix, Ariz.
3:00 P.M.
Grand Canyon
3-2
64
vs
60
Idaho
2-3
1
2
3
4
F
UI
19
12
20
9
60
Grand Canyon
12
28
9
15
64
Lopes go undefeated in Thanksgiving Classic, edge out Idaho 64-60
11/26/2016 6:25:00 PM | Women's Basketball
PHOENIX – The Grand Canyon women's basketball team picked up another nail biting win in the GCU Thanksgiving Classic finale after defeating the Vandals of Idaho 64-60 on Saturday afternoon. The Lopes improve to 3-2 on the year and remain a perfect 3-0 at GCU Arena.
The Lopes overcame a slow first quarter and knocked down free throws during the stretch to come away with the victory.
GCU earned co-champion honors with Northern Iowa as both team's were undefeated at the Classic.
Casey Rarrick led the Lopes with 20 points after hitting six three-pointers during the game. Guard Aniya Baker also had a huge night for the Lopes as she nearly recorded a triple double with 15 points, 12 rebounds and 8 steals.
How it Happened
For the second game in a row, the Lopes offense got off to a slower start as GCU only shot 4-17 in the first quarter. As a team, the Lopes were 1-9 from behind the arc and struggled to get their offense clicking. GCU trailed Idaho 19-12 at the end of the period.
The second quarter was a much different story. Rarrick caught fire from three-point range and knocked down four threes in the quarter to lead all Lopes in scoring. August Touchard also provided a huge spark off the bench as she added seven points in 12 minutes of action. A steal by Touchard off the press led to one of Rarrick's threes and extended the Lopes 20-3 quarter run.
GCU entered the locker room with a 40-31 half time lead. The Lopes scored 28 points in the quarter, the highest mark for the team so far this season.
In the second half, the Vandals came out with fire and intensityas they mounted a 13-0 run to take the lead at 41-40. GCU was scoreless throughout the first five minutes of the quarter as the Vandals fought their way back into the game. With the score tied 40-40, Rarrick hit her fifth three of the night to stop Idaho's run.
Rarrick began the fourth quarter just as she began the third by hitting another three to put GCU back in the lead at 52-51. The Lopes then turned up the intensity on defense led by the gritty play of Baker. Her eight steals and 12 rebounds were both team highs for GCU. Zelor Massaquoi also grabbed 10 rebounds during the contest.
Baker hit two jumpers within the final two minutes of the game to put the Lopes up 61-58 with 53 seconds on the clock. Baker then hit the second of two free throws and Touchard added two throws to extend GCU's lead. The Vandals were unable to close the gap against the Lopes and GCU closed the contest out with a 64-60 victory.
GCU Thanksgiving Classic All-Tournament Team
Co-Champions
Grand Canyon (2-0), Northern Iowa (2-0).
Co-Most Valuable Players
MVP | Marina Laramie GCU
MVP | Madison Weekly UNI
All-Tournament Team
Aniya Baker - GCU
Megan Maahs- UNI
Mikayla Ferenz - Idaho
Sam Romanowski - Denver
Lopes Quotes
Head Coach Trent May
"Really good weekend for our team. We are still learning a lot about each other, but one thing is for sure we fight really well together. It's good to be co-champs of our first Thanksgiving Classic. We feel we beat two good opponents who are well coached and play hard. Proud of our girls &and staff for their preparation and toughness."
Lopes Notes
Up Next:
GCU heads back on the road and will travel to California to meet UC Riverside on Tuesday, Nov. 29. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. MST.
The Lopes overcame a slow first quarter and knocked down free throws during the stretch to come away with the victory.
GCU earned co-champion honors with Northern Iowa as both team's were undefeated at the Classic.
Casey Rarrick led the Lopes with 20 points after hitting six three-pointers during the game. Guard Aniya Baker also had a huge night for the Lopes as she nearly recorded a triple double with 15 points, 12 rebounds and 8 steals.
For the second game in a row, the Lopes offense got off to a slower start as GCU only shot 4-17 in the first quarter. As a team, the Lopes were 1-9 from behind the arc and struggled to get their offense clicking. GCU trailed Idaho 19-12 at the end of the period.
The second quarter was a much different story. Rarrick caught fire from three-point range and knocked down four threes in the quarter to lead all Lopes in scoring. August Touchard also provided a huge spark off the bench as she added seven points in 12 minutes of action. A steal by Touchard off the press led to one of Rarrick's threes and extended the Lopes 20-3 quarter run.
GCU entered the locker room with a 40-31 half time lead. The Lopes scored 28 points in the quarter, the highest mark for the team so far this season.
In the second half, the Vandals came out with fire and intensityas they mounted a 13-0 run to take the lead at 41-40. GCU was scoreless throughout the first five minutes of the quarter as the Vandals fought their way back into the game. With the score tied 40-40, Rarrick hit her fifth three of the night to stop Idaho's run.
Rarrick began the fourth quarter just as she began the third by hitting another three to put GCU back in the lead at 52-51. The Lopes then turned up the intensity on defense led by the gritty play of Baker. Her eight steals and 12 rebounds were both team highs for GCU. Zelor Massaquoi also grabbed 10 rebounds during the contest.
Baker hit two jumpers within the final two minutes of the game to put the Lopes up 61-58 with 53 seconds on the clock. Baker then hit the second of two free throws and Touchard added two throws to extend GCU's lead. The Vandals were unable to close the gap against the Lopes and GCU closed the contest out with a 64-60 victory.
GCU Thanksgiving Classic All-Tournament Team
Co-Champions
Grand Canyon (2-0), Northern Iowa (2-0).
Co-Most Valuable Players
MVP | Marina Laramie GCU
MVP | Madison Weekly UNI
All-Tournament Team
Aniya Baker - GCU
Megan Maahs- UNI
Mikayla Ferenz - Idaho
Sam Romanowski - Denver
Lopes Quotes
Head Coach Trent May
"Really good weekend for our team. We are still learning a lot about each other, but one thing is for sure we fight really well together. It's good to be co-champs of our first Thanksgiving Classic. We feel we beat two good opponents who are well coached and play hard. Proud of our girls &and staff for their preparation and toughness."
Lopes Notes
- August Touchard earned a season-high with nine points.
- Casey Rarrick accounted for 12 of GCU's 28 points in the second quarter.
- GCU scored the most points in a quarter this season with 28 in the second quarter. They also shot 71.4 percent from the field and 75 percent from beyond-the-arc.
- Rarrick tied a career-high with six 3-pointers in a game. Second time she's achieved the feat this year.
- Aniya Baker nearly posted a triple-double with 15 points, 12 rebounds and eight steals. She produced season-highs in all three categories. She also led the team in rebounds and steals.
- Rarrick led the squad in points for the second time this year. She tied a career- high with 20 points, last achieved in the season-opener against Alcorn State.
Up Next:
GCU heads back on the road and will travel to California to meet UC Riverside on Tuesday, Nov. 29. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. MST.
Team Stats
UI
GCU
FG%
.339
.350
3FG%
.233
.323
FT%
.786
.750
RB
46
37
TO
19
12
STL
5
14
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
6
3FGM
6
FTM
2
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
PG
/ Women's BasketballF/C
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
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