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W Basketball
TBA
at South Carolina
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Wednesday, January 4
Phoenix, Ariz.
7:00 P.M.
Grand Canyon
0-0
77
vs
54
Arizona Christian (EXH.)
0-0
1
2
3
4
F
Arizona Christian
6
17
13
18
54
Grand Canyon
27
6
26
18
77
Lopes top Arizona Christian in final non-conference battle
1/4/2017 9:05:00 PM | Women's Basketball
PHOENIX - The Grand Canyon women's basketball program defeated Arizona Christian 77-54 in its final non-conference contest of the season on Wednesday night.
In the exhibition contest, Marina Laramie led GCU with 20 points, while Vanessa Murphy pulled down a team-leading nine boards.Â
How it Happened
To start the contest, everything was falling GCU's way. Laramie took her return to the court in stride as she collected GCU's first points of the contest off a nice dish from Brie Mobley. While, Zelor Massaquoi capitalized on an easy bucket, the Firestorm collected their first points off a jumper. The Lopes stepped up their defense holding Arizona Christian scoreless for 2:57 and not allowing a field goal through nearly eight Firestorm attempts. In response, GCU put together a 6-0 run led by two straight layups by Vanessa Murphy to leave the score at 27-6 to end the first period.
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In the second, ACU found its rhythm on offense as they put together a 15-6 run to cut GCU's deficit to 33-23. The Firestorm shot 57 percent from the field, holding GCU to just three field goals in the second period to come within 10 at the half.
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GCU came out with the tenacity they needed to maintain their advantage as they engineered a 10-2 run early in the third period to extend its lead back to 48-29. The Lopes went on to apply the press successfully, which led to a late period flurry of baskets capped off by a Julieh Clark layup to leave the mark at 59-36 to end the period.
GCU looked to continue its third quarter momentum, but the Firestorm wouldn't go quietly as they engineered an 11-7 run to cut the Lopes lead to 69-47 midway through the fourth. GCU quickly answered with a pair of baskets from Murphy and Julieh Clark to push GCU's lead to 73-51. The Lopes went on to control the rest of the contest in the remaining minutes. A pair of Julieh Clark free throws iced the game for GCU as they ended the contest with a 77-54 finish.Â
Up next
The Lopes open up conference action on Saturday, Dec. 7 as they travel to Orem, Utah to face Utah Valley. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. MST.Â
In the exhibition contest, Marina Laramie led GCU with 20 points, while Vanessa Murphy pulled down a team-leading nine boards.Â
How it Happened
To start the contest, everything was falling GCU's way. Laramie took her return to the court in stride as she collected GCU's first points of the contest off a nice dish from Brie Mobley. While, Zelor Massaquoi capitalized on an easy bucket, the Firestorm collected their first points off a jumper. The Lopes stepped up their defense holding Arizona Christian scoreless for 2:57 and not allowing a field goal through nearly eight Firestorm attempts. In response, GCU put together a 6-0 run led by two straight layups by Vanessa Murphy to leave the score at 27-6 to end the first period.
Â
In the second, ACU found its rhythm on offense as they put together a 15-6 run to cut GCU's deficit to 33-23. The Firestorm shot 57 percent from the field, holding GCU to just three field goals in the second period to come within 10 at the half.
Â
GCU came out with the tenacity they needed to maintain their advantage as they engineered a 10-2 run early in the third period to extend its lead back to 48-29. The Lopes went on to apply the press successfully, which led to a late period flurry of baskets capped off by a Julieh Clark layup to leave the mark at 59-36 to end the period.
GCU looked to continue its third quarter momentum, but the Firestorm wouldn't go quietly as they engineered an 11-7 run to cut the Lopes lead to 69-47 midway through the fourth. GCU quickly answered with a pair of baskets from Murphy and Julieh Clark to push GCU's lead to 73-51. The Lopes went on to control the rest of the contest in the remaining minutes. A pair of Julieh Clark free throws iced the game for GCU as they ended the contest with a 77-54 finish.Â
Up next
The Lopes open up conference action on Saturday, Dec. 7 as they travel to Orem, Utah to face Utah Valley. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. MST.Â
Team Stats
AC
GCU
FG%
.418
.424
3FG%
.154
.188
FT%
.545
.947
RB
33
40
TO
21
11
STL
7
15
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
17
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
C
/ Women's BasketballF/C
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG/F
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