Lopes look to rebound Saturday vs. Kansas City

Saturday, December 3

Phoenix, Ariz.

2 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Kansas City

12/2/2022 2:01:00 PM | Women's Basketball

GCU closes 4-game home stretch with 2 p.m. tipoff, 2022 rematch

By: Nick Macdonald

Saturday, Dec. 3 \| 2 p.m. \| GCU Arena \| Phoenix, Ariz.

	KANSAS CITY ROOS (3-4)	at	GRAND CANYON LOPES (5-1)

WATCH: ESPN+ \| STATS: View

Grand Canyon and Kansas City meet for the 16th time in school history Saturday for a matinee matchup at 2 p.m.
This is the first time the Lopes have hosted the Roos since Jan. 18, 2020, when Kansas City was a member of the WAC. The Roos are now in the Summit League.
GCU is coming off its season's first loss, an 80-72 defeat to Arizona State on Wednesday. The Lopes haven't lost back-to-back games in the regular season since Dec. 9-17, 2021 (Northern Arizona and Liberty).

GCU's high-pressure defense showed in the most recent matchup vs. Arizona State, forcing 19 turnovers and tallying 11 steals. ASU entered the night averaging 12 turnovers a game. The Lopes' 17.5 steals per game ranks third in the country.
The Lopes have been efficient from the floor, shooting 47.4% to rank 16th in the nation. The starting five of freshman Ellie Buzzelle, sophomores Aaliyah Collins and Naudia Evans, junior Tiarra Brown and graduate Evan Zars are shooting 48.6% from the field.
Zars is averaging a near double-double with 11.7 points and 8.8 rebounds per contest. Zars has recorded three double-digit rebound games, including nine vs. Arizona State.
The Lopes have nearly doubled their opposition's scoring in the second quarter this season, 118-66. Most recently, GCU outscored Lindenwood 31-10 and ASU 19-12 in the second quarter.
Head coach Molly Miller ranks second in the nation in winning percentage (.865), tallying a 225-35 record in six seasons at Drury and three-plus at GCU. She trails only UConn head coach Geno Auriemma (.885) among active head coaches.

The Battle for State Forty-Eight versus crosstown Arizona State on Wednesday wasn't just a great game, but a GCU program-record game.
A crowd of 6,019 fans filled GCU Arena, shattering the previous high of 2,831 set last season in the home opener vs. Arizona Christian. While Arizona State prevailed 80-72, the Lopes showcased a spectacle for any basketball fan.

Quotes from the game:

"I would like to acknowledge one of the greatest women's basketball atmospheres I have ever been a part of. Look what this did for women's basketball tonight. This definitely progressed our sport and was an exciting brand of basketball." - Miller.
"This was a hostile environment. To come on the road in this environment and for us to be down and we fight." - ASU head coach Natasha Adair.
"I think these environments, it's obviously a lot louder to hear play calls and you really have to look at our point guard." - ASU guard Sydney Erikstrup.
"When we saw the whole place was filled, it just took the energy from one thing to another. We were so excited and happy that people were coming to support women's basketball, and we hope that we showed them that they should come back." - GCU guard Sydney Palma.

Five games in, GCU poses one of the country's toughest defenses, ranking third in steals per game (17.5), third in turnovers forced per game (26.7), sixth in turnover margin (10.2) and 43rd in scoring defense (56.0).
The Lopes have recorded double-digit steals in each of its six games, including two games with 20-plus. GCU has forced 30 or more turnovers twice. In its most recent contest, it forced Arizona State into 19 turnovers after the Sun Devils entered with an average of 12 per game.
GCU is shooting 47.4% from the floor and has held opponents to 36.6%.

Kansas City is 3-4 overall with a 1-2 record on the road.
The Roos are coming off a 71-68 overtime victory at Bradley on Tuesday. Prior to that, it fell 79-68 in overtime at Arkansas State.
Kansas City is in the middle of a six-game road stretch, which began Nov. 22 at Santa Clara. It faces GCU, Kansas State and Wyoming to close out the trip. It has not played a home game since Nov. 18 vs. Utah Tech.
The Roos come in as one of the best shot-blocking teams in the nation, ranking ninth with 6.0 per game. Dani Winslow leads the team with 14 blocks while Jocelyn Ewell has 11.
Winslow ranks among the best in rebounding, averaging 13.9 per game to rank third in the nation. Her 97 rebounds and 5.4 offensive boards per game also rank third in the nation.
Kansas City is led by E'Lease Stafford, who is averaging 19.4 points per game (33rd in nation). She has scored in double figures in every game this season, including back-to-back games of at least 20 points in her last two played.

Kansas City prevailed 89-62 at home in the most recent meeting last season on Nov. 20, 2021.
It was the first loss of the season for GCU, which was 3-0 before falling in Kansas City.
Evans had a team-high 13 points in 11 minutes while Dominique Phillips recorded 11 points, four rebounds and three assists.
Kansas City shot 29 of 33 from the free throw line and 8 of 19 from 3-point range.