Second-half comeback gives GCU double overtime road win

Friday, December 1

Boca Raton, Fla.

5 P.M.

Grand Canyon

1-5

FAU

2-3

OT 1

OT 2

GCU

FAU

Second-half comeback gives GCU double overtime road win

12/1/2017 7:39:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Mobley tallies first double-double of the season

By: Sarah Woodward

BOCA RATON, Fla. – A night of many firsts for the Grand Canyon women's basketball team opened up the month of December for the Lopes – senior guard Brie Mobley's first double-double of the season, the first road win for the Lopes this season, and head coach Nicole Powell's first double overtime victory of her career.

After trailing by as much as 13, GCU (2-5, 0-0 WAC) defeated Florida Atlantic (2-4, 0-0 C-USA), 77-73, in double overtime on Friday night at the FAU Arena to garner the second victory of the season for the Lopes and the first away from the GCU Arena.

"Being a part of a double overtime win tonight just feels awesome for our team," Coach Powell said. "They continue to battle through all the ups and downs and all of the runs that FAU made and kept going forward to the next play.

"I'm really proud of their effort and ability to be resilient. When we got down or we made a mistake, we were able to come back on the next play and that's the biggest thing I'm proud of our team for.

"I have a ton of respect for Coach Jabir and what he's doing down here. A lot of respect to him and his team for playing a double overtime game."

Mobley tallied her third game of the year with 20-or-more points, as the guard had a game-high 26 on the night. She completed her first double-double with 10 assists to lead GCU in both categories. She also added a team-best eight rebounds.

"I'm really proud of our leader and what she did tonight. Not just scoring the ball, but making the right play at the right time. She showed a ton of maturity in the offensive end."

Redshirt senior guard Jessica Gajewski added 19 points for her second-straight game in double-digits. Gajewski was hot from the perimeter, as she drained five three-pointers, three of which came in a 16-6 run in the third quarter.

With three 3-pointers and 11 points on the night from redshirt senior Jordan Jackson, the guard was 1-of-4 players in double-digits on the night. Senior August Touchard added 10 points from three 3-pointers and a free throw as well.

Freshman Myra Williams tied Mobley with the lead in rebounding efforts, as the forward had eight on the night.

"A freshman thrust into this kind of moment and she competed well. I'm happy for her to be playing in front of friends and family down here."

The Lopes began the comeback by outscoring the Owls 18-13 in the third quarter to start the momentum and the 16-6 run.

GCU led the scoring in the fourth as well, 18-15, to overcome the eight-point halftime deficit and tie the game up, 59-59, to force the overtime period.

The Lopes were hot from the perimeter in the second half, as they shot 57 percent beyond the arc.

The pair battled through the first extra five minute period, before coming to a 66-66 draw, forcing a second overtime period.

FAU got on the board first in the final period of play and went on to convert two layups and 1-of-2 free throw attempts to reach a final score of 73 points on the night, but a pair of free throws and a layup from Williams, a jumper from Mobley and a free throw from Touchard gave GCU the road victory.

The Lopes continue the two-game road trip on Sunday, Dec. 3, when they face Bethune-Cookman for a 1 p.m. (MT) tip off.