Rally comes up short against Titans

Sunday, November 24

Phoenix, Ariz.

2 p.m.

Grand Canyon

2-3,0-0WAC

Cal State Fullerton

4-2,0-0Big West

Cal St. Fullerton

Grand Canyon

11/24/2019 4:05:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Balague scores career-high 19 in loss

By: Mark Oshidari

The Grand Canyon women's basketball team fell 90-70 to Cal State Fullerton on Sunday at GCU Arena.

CSUF (4-2) built a 49-32 with 9:05 left in the third quarter, but the Lopes (2-3) put together a furious rally to trail 54-51 after senior post Da'jah Daniel converted in the paint on the final GCU possession of the quarter.

The Lopes continued to threaten the Titans inthe fourth period, when GCU freshman point guard Jada Holland scored on a fastbreak to cut the Titans lead to 60-59 at the 6:05 mark.

CSUF was able to hold off each GCU run after that. The Titans scored on back-to-back possessions and led 71-63 with 2:14 remaining. Sophomore guard Venla Varis made a 3-pointer to cut the Titans lead to 71-66 at the 1:54 mark but CSUF hit a 3 to quickly regain an eight-point lead.

GCU was led by sophomore power forward Carla Balague's career-high 19 points. Balague went 8 for 9 from the field and added six rebounds.

Daniel was also strong in the paint for the Lopes with 19 points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots.

Holland added 14 points and eight assists while Varis scored 12 points. Sophomore point guard Laura Piera made her return to the lineup with nine assists in 29 reserve minutes.

CSUF was led by Raina Perez with 26 points and Taylor Turney with 16 points and 10 assists.

GCU is back in action on Dec. 6 at Portland State.