GCU hosts midweek game against Park

Wednesday, December 1

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Park (Ariz.)

Photo by: Elizabeth Tinajero

11/30/2021 12:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Lopes welcomes crosstown NAIA to GCU Arena

By: Sierra Smith

Wednesday, Dec. 1 \| 6 p.m. \| Phoenix, Ariz. \| GCU Arena

	PARK (ARIZ.) BUCCANEERS (4-3)	vs.	GRAND CANYON LOPES (4-1)

WATCH: Live Stream \| STATS: View

The Grand Canyon women's basketball welcomes Park (Ariz.) to GCU for a midweek matchup at home before hitting the road the next three weeks.

LEADING THE NATION: The Lopes currently rank No.1 nationally for steals per game (17.8) and forced turnovers per game (29.4).
RECORD-BREAKING QUARTER: In GCU's first game of the GCU Classic against Nicholls State, the Lopes broke the all-time school record for points in a quarter with an astounding 47. The all-time NCAA record is 55.
TRANSFERS MAKING AN IMPACT: Two Lopes are averaging double figures led by junior transfer Dominique Phillips with 11.6 points per game and graduate transfer Jay McChristine follows close behind with 10.6 points per game. McChristine is also averaging a team-high 7.8 rebounds per game.

The Buccaneers (4-3) are coming off of three consecutive wins at home against SAGU-AIC, Southwestern Christian and Lincoln University.
Park has played exhibition games against Utah Valley (L, 47-90) and Idaho State (L, 56-109).
Head coach Jeff Fore is in his third season with the Buccaneers and has a 20-24 overall record.
Three Buccaneers are averaging double figures including Macy Markus (13.7), Elise Young (13.5) and Haley Valencia (11.2).
Last season (Jan. 3, 2021) was the first-ever matchup between the Lopes and Buccaneers. GCU defeated Park 106-55, which broke the GCU DI-era scoring record.

The Lopes went undefeated in the GCU Women's Basketball Classic presented by Talking Stick Resort over Thanksgiving weekend.

GCU vs. Nicholls State

GCU shot 50% from deep for 19 made 3-pointers and put up 47 fourth quarter points on the way to a dominant 103-55 victory.
The Lopes (3-1) had four players score in double figures, led by graduate guard Ny'Dajah Jackson, who had 21 points on four 3-pointers and added three steals in just 14 minutes. GCU freshman point guard Kiyley Flowers tacked on 17 points and five steals off the bench, including a game-high five 3-pointers. Graduate guard Amara Graham added 13 points and senior guard Tianna Brown put up 12 points off a 4-for-5 performance from 3-point range.
The Lopes had great ball movement, piling up 27 assists on 41 made field goals. Individually, freshman point guard Ja'mya Powell-Smith dished a game-high five assists and graduate guard Chloe Akin-Otiko contributed four assists in only seven minutes.
GCU carried its momentum into the second half by going on a 7-0 run, punctuated by Brown's fourth 3-pointer. The Lopes were relentless on defense and forced 34 Colonel turnovers with 25 steals, led by junior forward Dominique Phillips' four. In the second half, GCU scored 68 points.
Within a 20-second span, GCU's Jackson hit a 3, snagged a steal and went coast to coast to finish the layup. Jackson scored all 21 of her points in the final 4:20 of the game, helping the Lopes to a GCU record of 47 points in the fourth quarter.

GCU vs. Houston Baptist

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.
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.
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.
The Lopes have forced at least 20 turnovers in all five games this season and rank first nationally 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.

The Lopes are on the road for the next three weeks to play Cal State Fullerton (Saturday), NAU (Dec. 9) and Liberty and UTSA at the South Padre Island Classic (Dec. 17-18).