Winning streak snaps as Lopes fall at CBU

Saturday, January 21

Riverside, Calif.

2 p.m.

Grand Canyon

14-5,6-2WAC

California Baptist

9-9,5-2WAC

Grand Canyon

California Baptist

1/21/2023 5:25:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Evans scores 19; GCU moves to 3rd in WAC at 6-2

By: Nick Macdonald

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Grand Canyon women's basketball team fell to California Baptist 78-70 on Saturday at the CBU Events Center, snapping its six-game winning streak.

The Lopes move to 14-5 overall and 6-2 in conference play. GCU sits in third place ahead of its Wednesday matchup with Southern Utah, who defeated Utah Tech on Thursday and is in first place in the WAC standings.

GCU sophomore guard Naudia Evans registered a team-high 19 points with 10-for-11 shooting from the free throw line. Her 10 free throws aided GCU's 81% shooting for a season-high 21 made free throws. Sophomore guard Aaliyah Collins and graduate power forward Evan Zars each had 13 points while junior forward Tiarra Brown had 10 points and six boards.

CBU (9-9, 5-2 WAC) got off to a hot start from 3-point range, making 4 of 13 attempts as it scored 24 first-quarter points. The most 3s given up this season by the Lopes in WAC play was six, as it entered 16th in the country in 3-point percentage defense before CBU made 12 in Saturday's game. GCU shot 43.8% in the first quarter and trailed 24-17.

The Lopes cut the Lancers lead to three points twice in the second quarter, with freshman guard Ellie Buzzelle knocking down a 3 to make it 30-27 with 5:10 on the clock. CBU got back up by as much as eight and led 43-37 at the half. GCU was 3 of 10 on 3s in the first half compared to CBU's 7-for-21 shooting.

The Lopes were outscored 19-10 in the third quarter and trailed 62-47, a season-high deficit for any quarter.

GCU's defense stepped up in the fourth, causing four turnovers with three steals while shutting out the Lancers for a four-minute stretch. Back-to-back 3s from junior guard Maisa Marcal and freshman guard Emma Krueger made it 66-55 with 7:15 to play. CBU answered, going back up 15 points and holding the Lopes from getting any closer than eight for the rest of the way.

GCU returns home for two games, beginning Wednesday at 6 p.m. vs. Southern Utah before welcoming Abilene Christian on Saturday. Each game will stream on ESPN+.