Lopes host WAC newcomer Tarleton

Monday, February 1

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Tarleton

Photo by: Elizabeth Tinajero

2/1/2021 9:35:00 AM | Women's Basketball

GCU plays first-ever games against Texans

By: Sierra Smith

Monday, Feb. 1 & Tuesday, Feb. 2 \| 6 p.m. \| GCU Arena

	TARLETON TEXANS (4-10, 0-4 WAC)	vs.	GRAND CANYON LOPES (9-3, 1-1 WAC)

WATCH: Live \| STATS: View

The Grand Canyon women's basketball team welcomes WAC newcomer Tarleton for the GCU's second conference series this season. This is the second time the series between the Lopes and Texans has been rescheduled.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW

Lopes in the top 25: The Lopes rank No. 1 in the country for opponent turnovers per game (26.7), No. 2 in total steals per game (15.3) and turnover margin per game (plus-10.8), No. 3 in total steals (183) and No. 28 in points per game (77.7).
Conference leaders: The 9-3 Lopes lead the conference in multiple team and individual statistical categories -- steals per game, turnover margin, opponent turnovers per game and offensive rebounds per game (14.5). Freshman center Katie Scott leads the WAC with 17.8 points per game. Sophomore guard Taylor Caldwell leads the conference with 3.7 steals per game and also ranks No. 5 nationally. Junior guard Laura Piera's 3.2 steals per game ranks No. 12 in the country.
Making history: Scott made WAC history by becoming the first player in 31 years to earn WAC Player of the Week three consecutive times.

SCOUTING

Tarleton is in its first season in the WAC after competing in the Lone Star Conference at the Division II level.
The Texans are coming off their first Division I win with a 79-63 victory over UT Rio Grande Valley. The game did not count as a conference game.
Two Texans are averaging double-digit points: Iyana Dorsey (13.6) and Marissa Escamilla (11.6).

LAST TIME OUT

GCU fell 62-54 to Big Sky leader Idaho State (13-1).
Freshman Tiarra Brown led the Lopes with 13 points and added 10 rebounds to record her second double-double this season. Brown also had three steals.
The Lopes forced 24 Bengals turnovers, keeping the streak alive of forcing at least 20 opponent turnovers in every game this season. GCU leads in the nation in opponent turnovers per game (26.7).