GCU upended by UC Riverside, 77-64

Tuesday, November 29

Riverside, CA

8:00 P.M.

Grand Canyon

3-3

UC Riverside

2-3

Grand Canyon

UC Riverside

11/29/2016 11:37:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Imani Suber

RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- The GCU women's basketball team fell to UCR 77-64 Tuesday night. GCU came out on fire in the first half outscoring the Highlanders 16-12 and shooting 55.2 percent from the field.

Although the Lopes had their most productive first half performance since the season opener against Alcorn State, GCU struggled to match the Highlanders intensity in the second half on both sides of the court and were shut down offensively.

Marina Laramie led the Lopes in scoring with 24 points for the fourth time this season. Jessica Gajewski (16) and Casey Rarrick (10) both had double digit nights. Zelor Massaquoi and Laramie both had a team leading nine rebounds on the night.

How it Happened
GCU opened up the contest with intensity and aggressiveness. Aniya Baker started things off for the Lopes scoring the first field goal to tie the game at 2-2. Both team's remained locked for several minutes, but Laramie recorded three consecutive scores to give the Lopes their first lead at 5-2. GCU smothered the Highlanders on defense, forcing five turnovers that led to the 20-12 finish at the end of the first.

In the second quarter, GCU continued to fire on all cylinders shooting 53.8 from the field going 7-of-13. August Touchard knocked down a shot from long range to extend GCU's lead to 11 and Jessica Gajewski followed with a trey herself to give the Lopes a 12 point lead, their largest of the night. The Highlanders failed to stop the Lopes on defense leaving the score at 40-20 heading into the half.

The second half told a different story as GCU let the Highlanders back in the game in the third quarter after engineering a 20-8 run to take the advantage at 50-48. The Lopes had opportunities,but failed to maintain the press allowing UCR's offense to thrive.

In a physical final frame, both teams went back-and-forth. Touchard gave the Lopes life with a trey to stay within two at 53-51. Laramie followed with a layup to keep the Lopes going. The Highlanders turned up their intensity as they put together a 14-0 run rendering the Lopes scoreless until the 2:26 minute mark when Rarrick ended the drought. Down by 14, the Lopes wouldn't go quietly scoring on four straight possessions to improve the score to 74-64 and come within 10.

Unfortunately, the Highlanders' aggressive defense matched by their offensive execution allowed them to control the remaining minutes and left the outcome at 77-64.

Lopes Notes

The Lopes fall to 3-3 on the young season and have yet to pick up their first road win of the 2016-17 campaign.
Three Lopes scored in double figures, Marina Laramie led with 24 points, while Casey Rarrick posted 10, and Jessica Gajewski produced 16.
GCU had the best first half since the season opener against Alcorn State. The Lopes shot 55.2 percent from the field and 40 percent from long range to total 40 points in the first half.
The Lopes forced eight turnovers converting them into 11 to maintain their 10 point lead at the half.
Laramie's team leading 24 points marks the fourth time this season she's led the squad.
Gajewski reached a season-high with 16 points.
Rarrick recorded her second straight double digit game and third this season.
Massaquoi led GCU in rebounds for the second time this season with nine.

Lopes Quotes
Head Coach Trent May
(On the team's performance)
"I thought our girls battled really well in the first half, shot the ball well, defended well, rebounded well. Probably one of our best first half showings we've had. We just didn't sustain anything we wanted to do in the second half. We still had an opportunity to come back, but when you settle for shots and you don't defend then you're going to get the result that we got."

(On positive takeaways from tonight's game)
"There's a lot of good things we can take away from this game as well. Like I said really good first half. Good fast start and we just needed to match their intensity in the second half. So credit UCR for what they did in the second half. We just go back and continue to work on the things we need to to get better and move forward."

Up Next
GCU returns home for a three-game stint at home and welcomes No.13 Washington to GCU Arena on Thursday, Dec. 1. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. MST.