Summer sweat shows in lopsided exhibition

Tuesday, November 1

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Western New Mexico

11/1/2022 9:05:00 PM | Women's Basketball, Paul Coro

Box Score Photo Gallery

With 10 newcomers, Lopes defense induces 33 turnovers in 96-51 blowout

By: Paul Coro

The GCU Basketball Facility has been hiding the months of work that it took for the Grand Canyon women's basketball team to meld 10 newcomers into an established system.

That effective effort jumped off the GCU Arena floor like a surprise party Tuesday night, when the Lopes throttled Western New Mexico 96-51 with the usual havoc-wreaking defense in front of the Havocs.

GCU took a 13-0 lead in the first four minutes and kept going with a 13-player shuffle of pressure and pace that did not even include its top returning player. Junior guard Tiarra Brown missed the game for an injury that is not expected to keep her out of Monday's regular-season home opener against Arizona Christian, but five other Lopes players scored in double figures Tuesday night.

The GCU defensive intensity was back for 33 turnovers by Western New Mexico, which was limited to three made field goals in the first quarter and none in the second quarter.

"It just shows how deep this team can go," said Lopes graduate power forward Evan Zars, a Western Illinois transfer who posted 10 points, nine rebounds and three assists on Tuesday. "We have so many threats on offense, and we have a lot of great defenders. If one person is having an off-night, another person has the capability to step up, and that makes us really dangerous."

There are 10 newcomers, but GCU sophomore guard Naudia Evans is not one of them. She just looks like a new player for how much the noted hard worker improved in the offseason.

In only 21 minutes, Evans scored 12 points and added six steals and six assists, including a pair of drive-and-dish plays that were highlight worthy.

"I've seen her put in the work," GCU head coach Molly Miller said. "She's earned every bit of success that she's had because I've seen her in here late nights, early mornings, three-a-days, after practice, before practice. She has been a gym rat, and it's paying off."

Naudia Evans

The Waynesville, Missouri, native and her fellow starters each had nine or more points with junior transfer Sydney Palma adding 10 more points off the bench.

Evans was part of the team's improved 3-point shooting with a pair of first-half 3s, but she also scored on a mid-range jumper, a fastbreak pull-up and a drive to show off three-level ability.

"They're giving me a lot more freedom because they trust me a lot more and I put in a lot more work," Evans said. "I can run point guard. I can run the 2. I can run the 3. I can even run the 4 at point. Right now, they're giving me a lot of trust and I'm hoping to prove them right."

GCU still gave Miller and the coaching staff fodder for this week's practices with 14 first-half turnovers and Western New Mexico's 17 offensive rebounds for the game. The Lopes were far more efficient in the second half with only three turnovers while still shooting 47.5% from the field.

"I think the turnovers were just part of the first-game jitters," Miller said. "We've just got to settle into a little bit. I'd love to have three turnovers a half from here on out, so that's a good sign.

"We have 10 new faces getting used to our style on defense too. It's in their heads. Now, they've got to get out of their heads and play with instincts. I thought our pressure was pretty good."

Freshman guard Ellie Buzzelle, who is from Rogers, Minnesota, earned a start and showed why, knocking down a pair of 3s, making all five of her free throws and tallying 11 points and three assists in 14 high-energy minutes.

All 13 available players scored with another impressive freshman line coming from 6-foot-3 power forward Alaina Harper, the Hartland, Wisconsin, product who backed Zars on the frontline with nine points and four rebounds while drawing five fouls in 15 minutes.

"It was exciting to put all the work we've been doing since the summer out there and see what it really turned out to be," Zars said. "It's good to get that one off our chests, and we can roll from there."

GCU will open the regular season on Monday in a 4 p.m. game against Arizona Christian. It is part of a GCU Arena basketball doubleheader with the Lopes men's basketball regular-season opener following against Montana State at 7 p.m.