Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus San Diego State on February 4, 2026 , Win , 57, to, 44
W Basketball
vs San Diego State
W 57-44
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Saturday, February 6
Phoenix, Ariz.
2 p.m.
Grand Canyon
77
vs
55
UT Rio Grande Valley
Photo by: Elizabeth Tinajero
Complete effort keeps Lopes in control
2/6/2021 5:36:00 PM | Women's Basketball, Paul Coro
GCU downs UTRGV 77-55; Scott scores 18 in 1st of 2 meetings
A complete game does not count any more in the standings, but it goes a long way with the coaches.
The Grand Canyon women's basketball team looked like a team that is finding its stride as it heads into the final month of the regular season with perhaps its most complete game Saturday – a 77-55 conference win against UT Rio Grande Valley in front of a limited GCU Arena crowd and a larger Phoenix television audience.
The Lopes (12-3, 4-1 WAC) provided the entertainment with their relentless full-court pressure defense shutting out UTRGV for 5 ½ first-half minutes and never letting the Vaqueros challenge again. That defense maintained GCU's nation-leading average of 26.3 opponent turnovers per game by drawing 26 on Saturday.
When UTRGV did manage a shot, it only converted 36% of them with Lopes junior guard Tianna Brown leading that defensive effort with a career-high five steals to go with a season-high 13 points.
"We were taught once we get it in, stab the knife in and keep twisting," Brown said. "We really try to just keep pushing and, defensively, that's what pushes us. Once that's going, our offense will keep going."
And going and going. A 16-0 run included Brown anticipating passes to the top of UTRGV's offense twice for a steal and layup – a "pick-six," as head coach Molly Miller calls them on Super Bowl eve. The Lopes scored 25 in the second quarter, including a SportsCenter Top 10 behind-the-back pass from sophomore Tavia Rowell for two of Brown's 10 points on the way to a 42-24 halftime lead.
"She gets it," Miller said of Brown, whose younger sister, Tiarra, added 13 points and six rebounds Saturday. "She's bought in to what we need her to do. I remember probably the first day I stepped on campus and got to work with her, I said, 'You can be our best on-ball defender that we have,' and I don't really take that statement back now. She has bought into that role. She hassles the ball up the floor."
The game marked GCU's first successive blowouts of Division I opponents this season. Not coincidentally, the games were also the Lopes' best 3-point shooting performances.
GCU was shooting 26.4% from 3-point range until a 17-point win against Tarleton and a 22-point win against UTRGV, games in which the Lopes made 15 of 33 shots (45.5%) from 3-point range with an improving inside-outside game.
Freshman center Katie Scott can play a major role in that from sucking down defenses in the post to the Lopes springing her for 3s with set plays. She has hit 50% of her 3s this season, including two on Saturday to record a game-high 18 points.
"I've had a lot of upperclassmen who have stepped in and elevated me to a higher level," Scott said. "Laura Piera, Taylor Caldwell, Kennedi Shorts have all stepped up and they've made me look better than I am at times. I think Coach Miller does a great job of putting us all in positions where we can succeed and it shows on the court."
Piera added a line of 10 points, five rebounds and four steals while heading the Lopes' improving half-court defense that held UTRGV top scorers, Amara Graham and Sara Bershers, to 5-for-17 shooting and 19 points, 13 below their combined season average.
Miller's postgame message: "Run it back." GCU, the WAC's second-place team to undefeated California Baptist, will play the Vaqueros again Sunday at 11 a.m. in GCU Arena.
"We haven't peaked yet so we're not quite at an A (grade), but I think our A game is scary," Miller said. "So we can get there. I think these kids are willing and able. Right now, we're a little inconsistent so that's our biggest thing to jump that letter grade."
The Grand Canyon women's basketball team looked like a team that is finding its stride as it heads into the final month of the regular season with perhaps its most complete game Saturday – a 77-55 conference win against UT Rio Grande Valley in front of a limited GCU Arena crowd and a larger Phoenix television audience.
The Lopes (12-3, 4-1 WAC) provided the entertainment with their relentless full-court pressure defense shutting out UTRGV for 5 ½ first-half minutes and never letting the Vaqueros challenge again. That defense maintained GCU's nation-leading average of 26.3 opponent turnovers per game by drawing 26 on Saturday.
When UTRGV did manage a shot, it only converted 36% of them with Lopes junior guard Tianna Brown leading that defensive effort with a career-high five steals to go with a season-high 13 points.
"We were taught once we get it in, stab the knife in and keep twisting," Brown said. "We really try to just keep pushing and, defensively, that's what pushes us. Once that's going, our offense will keep going."
And going and going. A 16-0 run included Brown anticipating passes to the top of UTRGV's offense twice for a steal and layup – a "pick-six," as head coach Molly Miller calls them on Super Bowl eve. The Lopes scored 25 in the second quarter, including a SportsCenter Top 10 behind-the-back pass from sophomore Tavia Rowell for two of Brown's 10 points on the way to a 42-24 halftime lead.
"She gets it," Miller said of Brown, whose younger sister, Tiarra, added 13 points and six rebounds Saturday. "She's bought in to what we need her to do. I remember probably the first day I stepped on campus and got to work with her, I said, 'You can be our best on-ball defender that we have,' and I don't really take that statement back now. She has bought into that role. She hassles the ball up the floor."
The game marked GCU's first successive blowouts of Division I opponents this season. Not coincidentally, the games were also the Lopes' best 3-point shooting performances.
GCU was shooting 26.4% from 3-point range until a 17-point win against Tarleton and a 22-point win against UTRGV, games in which the Lopes made 15 of 33 shots (45.5%) from 3-point range with an improving inside-outside game.
Freshman center Katie Scott can play a major role in that from sucking down defenses in the post to the Lopes springing her for 3s with set plays. She has hit 50% of her 3s this season, including two on Saturday to record a game-high 18 points.
"I've had a lot of upperclassmen who have stepped in and elevated me to a higher level," Scott said. "Laura Piera, Taylor Caldwell, Kennedi Shorts have all stepped up and they've made me look better than I am at times. I think Coach Miller does a great job of putting us all in positions where we can succeed and it shows on the court."
Piera added a line of 10 points, five rebounds and four steals while heading the Lopes' improving half-court defense that held UTRGV top scorers, Amara Graham and Sara Bershers, to 5-for-17 shooting and 19 points, 13 below their combined season average.
Miller's postgame message: "Run it back." GCU, the WAC's second-place team to undefeated California Baptist, will play the Vaqueros again Sunday at 11 a.m. in GCU Arena.
"We haven't peaked yet so we're not quite at an A (grade), but I think our A game is scary," Miller said. "So we can get there. I think these kids are willing and able. Right now, we're a little inconsistent so that's our biggest thing to jump that letter grade."
"OK, Tavia, we see you!" — @michaeleaves
— GCU Women's Basketball (@GCU_WBB) February 7, 2021
Hitting No. 8 on SportsCenter's Top 10 also helped everyone see @Taviarowell. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/OtBUSkib1g
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
PG
/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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