Lopes conclude nonconference play at UC Irvine

Wednesday, Dec. 21 \| 3 p.m. (Phoenix time) \| Bren Events Center \| Irvine, Calif.

	UC IRVINE ANTEATERS (7-3)	vs.	GRAND CANYON LOPES (8-2)

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The Lopes conclude nonconference play Wednesday at Big West opponent UC Irvine. It is the third road contest of the season for Grand Canyon.
This is the fourth contest in the all-time series, with the last meeting coming almost exactly a year ago on Dec. 23, 2021. GCU won that game 58-53 in Phoenix with all three games in the series being decided by five points or fewer.
GCU is 2-0 in road games this season, defeating Nicholls 79-41 in Thibodaux, Louisiana, and Montana 71-63 in Missoula.
The Lopes look to avoid back-to-back regular-season losses, something that hasn't happened since Dec. 9 and Dec. 17 of 2021.

GCU's defense stands among the best in the country, ranking second in in steals per game (15.7), fifth in turnover margin (9.8) and fifth in turnovers per game (24.9).
Sophomore guard Naudia Evans has dished out five assists in three of her past five games. Her 2.5 assist-to-turnover ratio ranks 30th in the nation and first in the WAC.
The Lopes have forced double-digit turnovers in each game played this year. The trio of sophomore guard Aaliyah Collins (29), junior guard Tiarra Brown (26) and Evans (20) each has registered 20 or more steals as GCU has 157 steals compared to its opponents' 69 this season.
GCU is 23rd in the country and second in the WAC in field goal percentage (46.6). Three players are shooting 50% or better from the floor with at least 100 minutes in graduate forward Evan Zars, Collins and Brown. The Lopes also rank second in the WAC in 3-point percentage (33.2) with eight or more 3s in five games.
Head coach Molly Miller ranks second in the nation in winning percentage (.864), tallying a 228-36 record in six seasons at Drury and four at GCU. She trails only UConn head coach Geno Auriemma (.884) among active head coaches who have competed in three or more seasons.

GCU poses one of the country's toughest defenses, ranking second in steals per game (15.7), fifth in turnovers forced per game (24.9) and sixth in turnover margin per game (plus-9.8).
The Lopes recorded double-digit steals in nine of its 10 games, including three with 20 or more. GCU has forced 15 or more turnovers in all 10 games with five games at 25 or more.

GCU has shot the ball well through the early portion of the season, ranking 24th in the nation and second in the WAC in field goal percentage (46.6%). The starting five of Collins, junior guard Sydney Palma, Evans, Brown and Zars are combining to shoot 51.2%.
The Lopes have shot 40% or higher in every game played this season, including a season-best 60.9% mark vs. Lindenwood on Nov. 26. The team has shot 30% or better from 3-point range six times this season with seven games of seven or more makes.

UC Irvine closes out nonconference play against the Lopes, owning a 7-3 record with a 3-0 home mark.
The Anteaters recently went 1-1 in the Beach Classic in Long Beach, California, on Dec. 16-17, defeating Dartmouth 72-57 and falling to Southern Miss 50-45.
The Lopes and Anteaters are among the top teams in steals per game, with GCU ranking second in the country (15.7) and UC Irvine ranking ninth (13.2). The Anteaters' scoring defense is 14th in the nation (52.4) while its 22.4 turnovers forced per game and plus-6.5 turnover margin rank 17th and 19th in the country, respectively.
Naomi Hunt leads the Anteaters with 11.4 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. UC Irvine has five players in double figures in steals this season, led by Diaba Konate, who has 23 while averaging 9.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists.
UC Irvine is 1-0 against the WAC this season, winning 54-53 at Seattle U on Nov. 19.

Wednesday marks the fourth-ever meeting between the two schools. It is the second under head coach Molly Miller for the Lopes.
Every game in the series, dating back to 2014-15, has been within five points or fewer. The Anteaters won the first contest 54-53 on Nov. 16, 2014, at GCU Arena.
The Lopes won last year's contest, 58-53, in Phoenix. Current Lopes players Tiarra Brown and Naudia Evans scored eight and seven points, respectively, with Brown adding six rebounds and two steals.

The Lopes take a week off before beginning WAC play on the road on Thursday, Dec. 29, at Utah Valley.
GCU returns home on Saturday, Dec. 31, for its first conference home game of the season vs. California Baptist.

Grand Canyon University Athletics