Palma, Lane shine in road win over Montana

Thursday, December 8

Missoula, Mont.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

7-1,0-0WAC

Montana

2-6,0-0Big Sky

Grand Canyon

Montana

12/8/2022 10:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Lane nets 19 points in 13 minutes, makes 6 of 8 shots in GCU debut

By: Nick Macdonald

MISSOULA, Mont. – The Grand Canyon women's basketball team fought its way to a 71-63 win at Montana on Thursday night, when a heroic season debut from junior forward Olivia Lane included 19 points in 13 minutes for the Lopes' seventh win of the season.

"This was a huge, tough, gritty road win for us against a team that was picked second in their conference," GCU head coach Molly Miller said. "For our resume, this should be a confidence builder as well as a momentum builder for us as we end this stretch of nonconference play. I really like how we are able to get a routine on the road and come away with the win."

GCU moved to 7-1 overall and 2-0 on the road after scoring 46 second-half points to get the win. It is the second time in three years under Miller that the Lopes have won seven of their first eight games of the season.

"It felt so amazing to be out there," said Lane, a North Dakota transfer who missed the first eight games for injury rehabilitation. "In my head I wasn't sure if I was going to play or not today, but I focused on what I could control and to build on the chemistry with the team today was exciting. I am looking forward to building off tonight's game as we go into the season."

GCU junior guard Sydney Palma finished with a game-high 22 points, one off her career high, on 5-of-7 shooting from 3-point range and 5-of-6 shooting on free throws. She added four rebounds and two steals in 37 minutes of play. Sophomore guard Aaliyah Collins recorded her fourth game with four or more steals, tallying five while adding 13 points and two assists and sophomore guard Naudia Evans, who came in averaging 1.4 rebounds per game, grabbed seven boards and added seven points and five assists.

Montana (2-6) came out firing 3s early, making four first-quarter 3-pointers as the game was tied 14-14 after one quarter. The second half saw back-and-forth scoring with six lead changes that ended with the Lady Griz leading 27-25 at the break.

Montana led by as much as five points early in the third quarter and by four later in the quarter, but the Lopes stayed close with Palma draining a pair of 3s in the final minute to put GCU within two heading into the final 10 minutes.

Again, down four points with 8:19 left in the game, Palma made her fifth 3-pointer of the game to cut the Montana lead to one (52-51). Collins and the defense forced a steal and score on the ensuing inbound and GCU led 53-52 in a 20-second swing.

Lane took control over the final 6 1/2 minutes of play, scoring nine points in that span that included a 3-pointer to put GCU ahead 64-56 with 2:34 remaining.

"We were so hype in those moments down the stretch," Lane said. "We knew we had to lock in and get the best shot possible, and tonight I think we did that. And our defense, to stay with our game plan down the stretch that we have been implementing all season, was big."

GCU, which struggled in recent games from the free throw line, made 17 of 21 in the game and 7 of 9 in the fourth quarter to secure the nine-point victory.

The Lopes forced 18 turnovers and tallied 11 steals after entering the game at Nos. 2 and 4 nationally in those categories, respectively.

GCU returns home and hosts Columbia (Mo.) on Sunday for Sunday Family Funday. Start time is set for 2 p.m. (Phoenix time) on ESPN+.