Lopes finish 2-0 in GCU Classic

Saturday, November 27

Phoenix, Ariz.

2 p.m.

Grand Canyon

4-1,0-0WAC

Houston Baptist

3-4,0-0Southland

Houston Baptist

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Elizabeth Tinajero

11/27/2021 5:19:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

McChristine scores 16; GCU defeats Houston Baptist 63-54

By: Sierra Smith

The Grand Canyon women's basketball team took down Houston Baptist 63-54 on Saturday and moved to 4-1 as it finished 2-0 in the GCU Classic presented by Talking Stick Resort.

Lopes graduate transfers Jay McChristine and Amara Graham each put up double-digit points to help the Lopes secure the win. McChristine led the way as she nearly posted a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds while Graham had 13 points, four assists and three rebounds.

"That is Jay's charge every night, is to go get a double-double," GCU head coach Molly Miller said. "A lot of those can come from rebound putbacks. She knows her assignment, as they say. She did a really good job of just fighting in there for the boards."

The Lopes only had five rebounds in the first quarter, compared to Houston Baptist's 11, but GCU stepped up and finished the game with 38 board to the Huskies' 36.

"It's definitely going to be a team effort every game," Miller said. "Every game is a little different. When you go in you got a different scout, you got a different feel. And for us, someone new might be the different star of the game and that's what's unique but also special about this team. It's not just one person. It's a collective effort."

McChristine had almost half of GCU's points in the first quarter with seven, then finished the first half with 11. The Lopes trailed the Huskies at the end of the first quarter 16-13, then fought back and forth to tie it, 28-28, at halftime.

"We huddled after the third quarter ended and we said the fourth quarter is always ours," Miller said. "I had a lot of confidence going in that we typically wear teams down. At that point, they're pretty frustrated with getting out of the flow of their offense, so I thought our defense stepped up."

GCU outscored Houston Baptist 16-14 in the third quarter for a two-point advantage going into the final stretch. After falling behind 51-47 with 7:49 to go, the Lopes went on a 14-0 run for a 10-point lead and shut the Huskies out for 4 minutes and 50 seconds.

"Sometimes you win gritty, and this was a gritty win," Miller said. "Good teams find a way and we found a way tonight."

The Lopes have forced at least 20 turnovers in all five games this season and ranked first nationally coming into Saturday's game in opponent turnovers and steals.

This was the first tournament hosted by the Lopes since Miller came to GCU, which welcomed Montana, Nicholls State and Houston Baptist to GCU Arena for the Thanksgiving weekend.

"It was great hosting an inaugural Thanksgiving tournament," Miller said. "It's nice to be down here in Phoenix and warm weather so it'll be good to do this every year and good to sleep in your own beds around the holidays too. I love tournaments when we get to host and there's a lot of things that go on behind the scenes. The University is closed, but we have staff showing up here to run it and make it happen so I'm very appreciative for all that work that goes in with our administration and our staffing. So successful Year 1 tournament."

Up next, GCU hosts Park (Ariz.) on Wednesday at 6 p.m. before heading back on the road to Cal State Fullerton next Saturday.