Lopes halt Aggies for series split

Saturday, February 10

Phoenix, Ariz.

2 P.M.

Grand Canyon

13-11, 7-3

New Mexico State

12-11, 6-3

New Mexico State

Grand Canyon

2/10/2018 3:59:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Mobley tallies seventh double-double

By: Sarah Woodward

PHOENIX, Ariz. – For the first time since 2014 and just the second since the Lopes began the transition to Division I, the Grand Canyon women's basketball team defeated New Mexico State, 50-34, on Saturday afternoon at the GCU Arena. The Lopes (13-11, 7-3 WAC) won their third-straight conference matchup while serving the Aggies their second-straight conference loss.

The Lopes and the Aggies split the conference series, as NMSU claimed game one in Las Cruces, 64-60.

"This is obviously a huge win for our team and program," head coach Nicole Powell said. "It's so meaningful to our seniors to go out and do that at home. I'm really proud of our whole team. There were some great individual performances - I thought Brie (Mobley) took some incredible shots tonight.

"The thing I'm most proud of are the things that don't show up on the stat sheet. Every single one of our kids was locked in and committed to whatever their role was. We had some players who didn't get a chance to get in but were still supporting the team. All the in-between things on the defensive end and on offense that doesn't show up on the stat sheet.

"That really expressed itself today in getting a team win against a very good team and program.We'll continue to do the best we can and to grow and keep moving in a positive direction."

Senior Brie Mobley was back on her game, as the guard tallied her seventh double-double of the season and 21st double-digit performance of the year with 20 points and 11 rebounds.

Fellow senior Jessica Gajewski notched her 13th-straight double-digit game with 16 points on the day, while adding a rebound and an assist.

The Lopes went up right off the bat with a 12-8 advantage at the end of the first, as Mobley and Gajewski had six points apiece to pace GCU.

After going up 18-8 in the second quarter, the Aggies went on a 6-0 run to cut the Lopes lead to four, 18-14, heading to the locker room. Mobley had 10 first-half points and six rebounds, while Gajewski and Murphy had six and two points, respectively.

The Lopes took the first double-digit lead of the game by 10, 33-23, after the third quarter as Mobley nearly completed her double-double with 17 points and nine boards. GCU held NMSU to a third-straight single digit quarter and just 23 points through 30 minutes of play.

GCU shut it down by taking a lead as large as 20 points with 2 minutes, 30 seconds to play in the game, before ending the game on top, 50-34. The Aggies total points was the lowest this season.

The Lopes return home for a final time this season on Saturday, February 17 when they host CSU Bakersfield at 2 p.m. (MT). The game will celebrate the GCU seniors and admission is free.