2nd-half defense propels Lopes past Roos

Saturday, December 3

Phoenix, Ariz.

2 p.m.

Grand Canyon

6-1,0-0WAC

Kansas City

3-5,0-0Summit League

Kansas City

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Garrett Ohrenberg

12/3/2022 5:09:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

GCU forces 16 turnovers after halftime of 61-50 win

By: Nick Macdonald

Despite a season low of 25 first-half points, the Grand Canyon women's basketball team regrouped in the second half to outscore Kansas City 36-20 while the defense forced 16 of its 27 turnovers over the final 20 minutes to win 61-50.

Sophomore guard Aaliyah Collins led the Lopes with 17 points and tallied four assists and four steals. Twelve of her points came in the second half as the Lopes rallied around her and freshman forward Laila McLeod's second-half shooting. McLeod recorded a season-best 13 points with two 3-pointers in 20 minutes of play.

The victory moved GCU to 6-1 overall and 5-1 at home.

The third-ranked defense in the country lived up to its billing in the second half, forcing 16 turnovers and holding Kansas City (3-5) to 20 points. Lopes junior forward Tiarra Brown had a career-best six steals to compliment her 12 points and five rebounds.

"I don't think we were very assertive on the defensive end that first half," GCU head coach Molly Miller said. "It was kind of a slugfest there, so we wanted to change tempo in our favor. I think we got after it, especially those first couple possessions by setting the tone. We wanted to set a different tone the second half than we did the first half. Defensively, it was a lot better in terms of intensity."

It was a slow start offensively for GCU, which shot 5 for 13 in the first quarter. Despite 11 first-quarter points, the defense held Kansas City to eight shots to be tied through one period. Kansas City led 30-25 at halftime.

GCU scored six points in the first 90 seconds of third-quarter play to cut it to one and tied it at 36-36 with 4:45 left in the quarter. A quarter-ending, 8-0 run propelled the Lopes to a 46-39 lead. GCU led by as many as 13 in the fourth quarter as the offense found its rhythm and fueled off its defense, scoring 23 points off turnovers in the game.

The Lopes are 6-1 for the third consecutive season under Miller.

GCU heads on the road for the second time this season on Thursday to face Big Sky opponent Montana. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. (Phoenix time).