South Padre trip brings 1st-ever meetings

Friday, December 17

South Padre Island, Texas

2 p.m. (Phoenix time)

Grand Canyon

Liberty

Photo by: Elizabeth Tinajero

12/16/2021 10:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Lopes face Liberty, UTSA in South Padre Island Classic

By: Sierra Smith

Friday-Saturday, Dec. 17-18 \| South Padre Island, Texas

	LIBERTY FLAMES (9-1) UT SAN ANTONIO ROADRUNNERS (2-6)	vs.	GRAND CANYON LOPES (5-3)

GCU vs. Liberty \| Friday @ 2 p.m. (Phoenix time) \| WATCH: Livestream \| STATS: View GCU vs. UTSA \| Saturday @ 3 p.m. (Phoenix time) \| WATCH: Livestream \| STATS: View

The Grand Canyon women's basketball team concludes its three-week road stretch with a trip to South Padre Island, Texas, for the South Padre Island Classic, hosted by UT Rio Grande Valley. The Lopes' matchups against Liberty and UT San Antonio are both the first-ever meetings between the schools.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW

NATION-LEADING DEFENSE: The Lopes rank No. 1 nationally for turnovers forced per game (28) and steals per game (17.7). They also rank No. 3 for turnover margin (plus-11) and No. 6 for steals (133).
ROAD-TESTED: GCU is in the final week of a three-week road stretch, trying to earn its first win away from GCU Arena. The Lopes are 5-0 at home and 0-3 on the road.
STARTING SISTERS: For the first time in their collegiate careers, the Lopes' sister pair of Tianna and Tiarra Brown started together in Thursday's game at Northern Arizona.

SCOUTING

Liberty

The Flames (9-1) are on a six-game winning streak.
Their scoring is led by Mya Berkman with 14.6 points per game, followed by Bridgette Rettstatt with 10.0 points per game.
Berkman also leads the team with 7.9 rebounds per game while Rettstatt has 6.8 per game.
Head coach Carey Green is in his 23rd season at Liberty, accumulating a record of 495-203 (.709).

UT San Antonio

The Roadrunners (2-6) are coming off a 49-39 win against Dartmouth.
UTSA's LaPraisjah Johnson is the only player averaging double figures with 10.5 points per game.
Queen Ulabo is averaging a team-high 7.8 rebounds per game and Jadyn Pimentel leads the Roadrunners with 2.8 steals per game.
Head coach Karen Aston is in her first season at helm for UTSA. She has been head coach at Charlotte, North Texas and Texas.

LAST TIME OUT

GCU at Northern Arizona

The Lopes fell 108-77 at in-state foe Northern Arizona 108-77 on Thursday night.
Four Lopes scored in double figures, led by junior forward Dominique Phillips' 14 points. Freshman point guard Ja'Mya Powell-Smith posted 13 points, graduate forward Jay McChristine scored 12 and sophomore guard Tiarra Brown put up 10 points.
The Lopes fought back from a seven-point deficit to a one-point deficit with 2:25 to go in the first quarter before NAU went on a 7-2 run to finish the first with a 26-20 advantage.
NAU's 33-14 second quarter put the Lopes behind 59-34 at halftime.
The Lumberjacks (4-3) expanded their lead by outscoring GCU 23-16 in the third quarter. The Lopes had their best offensive showing in the fourth quarter with 27 points, but it was not enough to rally.