Lopes down Firestorm in fourth-straight win

Tuesday, January 2

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 P.M.

Grand Canyon

6-8

Arizona Christian

11-3

Arizona Christian

Grand Canyon

1/2/2018 8:06:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Mobley tallies fifth double-double

By: Sarah Woodward

PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Grand Canyon women's basketball team closed out its non-conference slate with its fourth-straight win on Tuesday night at the GCU Arena, as the Lopes (6-8, 0-0 WAC) downed Arizona Christian (11-2, 0-0 GSAC), 75-51. The senior pair of Jessica Gajewski and Brie Mobley paced the Lopes with 19 and 18 points, respectively, while Mobley tallied her fifth double-double of the season.

Mobley finished the night with a game-best 11 boards, while Gajewski added three assists and three rebounds of her own.

Eight Lopes put points on the board in tonight's team victory, as senior August Touchard contributed 12 along with eight rebounds and six assists. Sophomore Vanessa Murphy was near a double-double with nine points and nine boards, while junior Kavita Akula added nine points from a trio of 3-pointers.

The pair of freshman Camille Hailey and junior ShaRon Miller had three points apiece, while freshman Florence Tshimanga added two. Miller had a season best six boards, while Hailey tallied four assists.

The Lopes came out strong from the get-go, establishing a quick 12-point, 20-8, lead in the final minutes of the first quarter. ACU cut the lead to 10 at the first quarter buzzer.

Pushing to a first-half lead as large as 19 points (32-13), the Lopes closed out the first half on top, 37-23, heading to the locker room.

Arizona Christian went on a 6-0 run to come within eight points of the Lopes to start the third quarter, but GCU reestablished its momentum and went ahead by 17, 57-40, at the end of the third.

The Lopes saw significant minutes in the fourth quarter from its bench players, as Payton Paro made her collegiate debut by joining Akula and Tshimanga on the court. GCU's final lead of 24 points was its largest of the contest.

Grand Canyon returns to the GCU Arena on Saturday, Jan. 6 for its Western Athletic Conference opener. The Lopes square off with Seattle U at 2 p.m. and admission is free.