Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus San Diego State on February 4, 2026 , Win , 57, to, 44
W Basketball
vs San Diego State
W 57-44
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Tuesday, November 19
Missoula, Mont.
7 p.m.
Grand Canyon
2-2,0-0WAC
67
at
72
Montana
2-1,0-0Big Sky
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Canyon | 13 | 18 | 20 | 16 | 67 |
| Montana | 21 | 21 | 16 | 14 | 72 |
Varis leads Lopes in road loss
11/19/2019 9:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Sophomore guard records 24 points at Montana
MISSOULA, Mont. — Grand Canyon sophomore Venla Varis scored a career-high 24 points at Montana in a 72-67 loss Tuesday night.
The Lopes shooting guard went 6 for 10 on 3-pointers but the Grizzlies overcame that and the scoring of sophomore wing Tianna Brown (14 points) and freshman point guard Jada Holland (13 points).
Montana went on an eight-point run in the first three minutes but Varis' first 3 put GCU on the board at 6:31. The Lopes (2-2) and Grizzlies (2-1) traded shots through the next two minutes before Holland made back-o-back layups to cut Montana's lead to 15-12 with 3:23 left in the first quarter. The Grizzlies closed out the quarter on a 6-1 run to enter the second quarter leading 21-13.
Holland made two 3-pointers in the second quarter to reach 10 points in the first half, making it her third double-digit game in four appearances. GCU sophomore forward Kennedi Shorts scored her first points of the game to start off the second quarter, sparking a 9-4 Lopes run. Lopes senior power forward Da'jah Daniel made back-to-back layups to close the gap to 25-24 but the Grizzlies responded with a 17-7 run in the next seven minutes for a 42-31 halftime advantage.
GCU cut Montana's lead to seven in the third quarter, thanks to 11 points from Varis. The Lopes and Grizzlies traded shots in the first three minutes of the quarter, allowing Montana to go ahead 51-36 with 5:24 left. After a layup from Shorts, Varis contributed 11 points of a 13-5 run to enter the fourth quarter trailing 58-51.
The Grizzlies started the fourth quarter with a made free throw and a jump shot, which Varis answered with her fifth 3-pointer of the game. She went on to hit one more, finishing the night 6 for 10 from 3-point range and 8 for 12 overall. Brown also hit two 3-pointers and a jumper in the fourth quarter, helping to lower the lead to three with four seconds left on the clock. Montana then sealed the win with two free throws.
GCU is back in action in GCU Arena at 2 p.m. Sunday against Cal State Fullerton.
The Lopes shooting guard went 6 for 10 on 3-pointers but the Grizzlies overcame that and the scoring of sophomore wing Tianna Brown (14 points) and freshman point guard Jada Holland (13 points).
Montana went on an eight-point run in the first three minutes but Varis' first 3 put GCU on the board at 6:31. The Lopes (2-2) and Grizzlies (2-1) traded shots through the next two minutes before Holland made back-o-back layups to cut Montana's lead to 15-12 with 3:23 left in the first quarter. The Grizzlies closed out the quarter on a 6-1 run to enter the second quarter leading 21-13.
Holland made two 3-pointers in the second quarter to reach 10 points in the first half, making it her third double-digit game in four appearances. GCU sophomore forward Kennedi Shorts scored her first points of the game to start off the second quarter, sparking a 9-4 Lopes run. Lopes senior power forward Da'jah Daniel made back-to-back layups to close the gap to 25-24 but the Grizzlies responded with a 17-7 run in the next seven minutes for a 42-31 halftime advantage.
GCU cut Montana's lead to seven in the third quarter, thanks to 11 points from Varis. The Lopes and Grizzlies traded shots in the first three minutes of the quarter, allowing Montana to go ahead 51-36 with 5:24 left. After a layup from Shorts, Varis contributed 11 points of a 13-5 run to enter the fourth quarter trailing 58-51.
The Grizzlies started the fourth quarter with a made free throw and a jump shot, which Varis answered with her fifth 3-pointer of the game. She went on to hit one more, finishing the night 6 for 10 from 3-point range and 8 for 12 overall. Brown also hit two 3-pointers and a jumper in the fourth quarter, helping to lower the lead to three with four seconds left on the clock. Montana then sealed the win with two free throws.
GCU is back in action in GCU Arena at 2 p.m. Sunday against Cal State Fullerton.
Team Stats
GCU
Mont
FG%
.531
.418
3FG%
.600
.357
FT%
.750
.778
RB
23
33
TO
16
10
STL
5
7
Game Leaders
Pts
24
FGM
8
3FGM
6
FTM
2
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballPG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
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