Winning streak reaches 5

Saturday, February 8

Phoenix, Ariz.

2 p.m.

Grand Canyon

12-8,7-2WAC

California Baptist

11-13,3-7WAC

California Baptist

Grand Canyon

2/8/2020 4:43:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Several Lopes contribute in win against CBU

By: Mark Oshidari

The Grand Canyon women's basketball team won its fifth straight game, defeating California Baptist 72-66 in GCU Arena on Saturday.

Lopes freshman point guard Jada Holland led the Lopes with a season-high 22 points and played all 40 minutes. Holland went 8 for 8 from the free-throw line, helping GCU go 17 for 20 as a team from the charity stripe.

With the win, GCU improves to 12-8 overall and 7-2 in WAC play while CBU drops to 11-13 and 3-7. With only one game on their slate this week, the Lopes are now in second place, trailing Kansas City (15-9, 8-2 WAC) by a half-game.

It was not the usual suspects leading the Lopes on Saturday. Sophomore guard Tianna Brown scored 14 points, one off her season high, and fellow sophomore guard Mariah Mitchell added nine points to record her season high. Freshman power forward Mae Bryant added nine points, seven rebounds and a season-high five steals as the GCU bench outscored CBU 34-12.

"This was a great team effort," Lopes head coach Nicole Powell said. "It was an unorthodox game. Matching up with California Baptist is a little different for us. Holland made some big shots, TB (Brown) gave us great minutes, Mariah Mitchell was outstanding. Mariah's minutes (season-high 22) were huge, I can't emphasize that enough. That's what we preach: it takes a team effort and today was her day. She came in and she was ready to go. She hasn't had consistent minutes this season, but being locked in with the game plan on both ends of the floor, I thought that was huge."

GCU struggled out of the gate as the Lancers outscored the Lopes in each of the first two periods to take a 36-29 halftime lead.

After going just 1 of 12 from 3-point range in the first half, the Lopes caught fire in the second half by connecting on 6 of 8 from downtown and 12 of 29 from the field.

"Overall, I thought we were dialed in, especially in that second half," Powell said. "We did not have a great start and we were not following the game plan. We adjusted back and dialed in in the second half, and did what they needed to do."

The Lopes trailed from early in the first quarter into the beginning of the fourth quarter. GCU regained the lead on its first possession of the final period as Brown scored off a Holland assist to give GCU the 51-49 lead.

The lead changed hands 10 times in the game with CBU last leading 59-58 after an Ane Olaeta 3-pointer at the 2:58 mark. The Lopes went on a 10-3 run to lead 68-62 after a pair of Holland free throws with 24 seconds remaining. The Lancers did not pull closer than four points the rest of the way.

CBU was led by Lexy Ram with 15 points and 23 rebounds.

GCU is back in action on Thursday when it hits the road to take on conference leader Kansas City.