Scoring record shows no rust entering WAC

Sunday, January 3

Phoenix, Ariz.

2 p.m.

Grand Canyon

8-1

106

Park (Ariz.)

2-2

Park (AZ)

Grand Canyon

106

Photo by: Elizabeth Tinajero

1/3/2021 5:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball, Paul Coro

Box Score Photo Gallery

GCU breaks DI-era mark for 2nd consecutive game with 106 points

By: Paul Coro

Earning an 8-1 record that was one shot away from perfect is important but it is not even the primary achievement of the GCU women's basketball team's first nonconference slate under head coach Molly Miller.

The Lopes did it with style, one that is becoming an identity. GCU went nearly two weeks without a game, but came out of the break by setting its Division I-era scoring record for the second consecutive outing. The Lopes overwhelmed Park (Ariz.) 106-55 at home Sunday, when their suffocating defense that chewed up 2020 wins began 2021 with its crosstown NAIA visitor committing 32 turnovers.

Making miscues is the GCU calling card already. The Lopes lead the nation for opponent turnovers per game. Nonstop, tenacious defense have created 68 turnovers in the past two games, pushing the season average to 27.2.

Despite its worst 3-point shooting game of the season (3 for 20), GCU still set a scoring record and shot 55.2% from the field because its transition scores, post-ups and drives piled up 82 points in the paint.

"Is that a mistype?" Lopes head coach Molly Miller said upon first glance at the postgame box score.

With freshman center Katie Scott's 28 points leading five GCU double-digit scorers, the Lopes went on a 10-0 run in each of the first three quarters before adding a 16-0 run in another dominant fourth quarter.

It was the type of performance and momentum builder that GCU needed with WAC play starting this week, when conference newcomer Tarleton visits GCU Arena for a Friday-Saturday set.

"Now, we're focused on the details," Miller said. "You basically have your system in and you have your brand in. Now you have to hit shots, defend and rebound and do all those little things and tidy up some other things. For us, it was seeing if we had that carryover from a good, tough week and a half of practice. We were going hard. We didn't want to have to knock the rust off."

Park (2-3) bombed away with 35 of its 64 shots coming from the 3-point line. It worked to a degree early, keeping GCU to a 15-10 lead before the Lopes floored it. They pulled away with the help of12 second-quarter points by junior point guard Laura Piera, who made consecutive steals and layups for a 31-14 lead.

Piera always has relished defense and shown acumen for it, but she is clicking in Miller's system more. Her 14-point, five-rebound, five-steal game showed that Sunday. After averaging 1.8 steals in the first six games, Piera is averaging 5.7 steals in the past three games.

"I really love playing this style," Piera said. "It's my style. I'm a defensive player so I love Coach Miller how she's trying to push every time and give us 100% so we have to give it to her 100%. I love it."

Piera's backcourt partner, sophomore Taylor Caldwell, also was her usual defensive menace and stat-stuffer. She set a career high for rebounds with eight and added 10 points, six assists, five steals and two blocked shots.

Scott followed a career-high 34-point game with 28 points, her sixth 20-point game in nine starts. She made 11 of 18 shots, putting the center at 60.8% shooting for the season. She is averaging more points (20.7) than minutes (19.6).

Junior Venla Varis played her best game of the season. Reliant on perimeter shooting in the past, she showed how her game is evolving with rim runs and post-ups for a season-high 13 points on Sunday.

"She's so multi-dimensional and she's long," Miller said of Varis. "She's like a gazelle out there so we want to use her length and speed a little bit. She can be the frontrunner and beat everyone down the court and try to get one of those rim runs. If she doesn't, she's pretty good about posting up and making a composed move."

The bond that the team has created was evident in its largest celebration of the game. The team went wild for freshman Kamryn Flemings scoring her first career points on an interior shot as she was fouled. Flemings, from Dublin, California, was not on the team until two months ago, when a season-ending knee injury to Chloe Akin-Otiko necessitated a campus search to help practice depth.

"Our team is really close," Piera said. "We love each other. We don't have drama. When someone succeeds, we're happy for her. Everybody is for each other. It's really fun to be on the bench and on the court."