Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball at #2 South Carolina on November 3, 2025 at 4 p.m. (MST)
W Basketball
4 p.m. (MST)
at #2 South Carolina
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Thursday, November 16
Phoenix, Ariz.
7 p.m.
Grand Canyon
2-1,0-0WAC
56
vs
64
Oregon
3-0,0-0Pac-12
1
2
3
4
F
Oregon
9
16
22
17
64
Grand Canyon
8
11
21
16
56
Photo by: David Kadlubowski
Size of heart challenges elite Oregon squad
11/16/2023 10:46:00 PM | Women's Basketball, Paul Coro
Lopes hold Ducks to 34.5% shooting in front of 2,136
The Grand Canyon women's basketball envisions playing on a different level in March.
On Thursday night, the Lopes got a glimpse of how they could belong there.
GCU took on an Oregon opponent that is huge in size and stature, having 6-foot-7 and 6-foot-8 post players and a No. 16Â national ranking in Massey Ratings, and stayed on the Ducks' heels before falling 64-56 in front of 2,136 fans at GCU Arena.
The Lopes (2-1) led in the second quarter and pulled within two late in the third quarter but the size ultimately tipped the scales. Oregon pounded the paint for 15 of its 20 made field goals and shot 13 free throws before GCU attempted its first one in the third quarter.
"We were definitely outmatched in the size department, but not in the heart department," Lopes head coach Molly Miller said.
"I was really proud of our team for what they gave out there in terms of energy and effort. If we can continue that, this is a team that could, with every chance on the court, win out. It was a game that was very winnable for us, so we're right there."
GCU unnerved Oregon for six first-quarter turnovers and put together a 9-0 run that extended into the second quarter when junior guard Trinity San Antonio beat the shot clock with a fadeaway for a 13-9 edge.
But the Ducks' size continued to be difficult for the Lopes to attack for scores, although GCU only made nine turnovers.
Oregon's only first-half 3-pointer capped its scoring in a 25-19 first half, but the Ducks had scored 25 in their season opener's first quarter and 26 in their second game's second quarter.
"I don't think we were at our best, but I give them the credit, especially in the first quarter, we were on our heels," said Oregon coach Kelly Graves, who had the nation's N
o. 2 team when the 2019-20 season was halted and made two previous Elite Eight trips. "We didn't react well to the pressure. We couldn't shoot the ball. Neither team shot well. I give them a ton of credit. We built a nice lead and they cut it to two, but defensively we were pretty good.
"This was a good win. I would think they're going to win that conference."
Just when it seemed Oregon (3-0) broke the game open with its largest lead at 41-29, GCU rallied to cut the Ducks lead to 42-40 when junior guard Naudia Evans made a 3-pointer with 1:35 to go in the third quarter.
When the lead expanded again in the fourth, Evans hit another 3 to give the Lopes one last shot with a 57-52 deficit and 4:16 remaining. GCU closed with six misses, five of which were 3s, but the Lopes gave the Ducks more of a fight than the 17.5-point underdog tag predicted.
"It proves to not only other people, but ourselves, that we can compete with anyone," said GCU graduate power forward Shay Fano, who made three 3-pointers. "We have the skill, talent and the next-man-up mentality. We have so many weapons. It can be anybody's night any given night."
Fano, off th
e bench at 6 feet, and senior guard Tiarra Brown, at 5 feet 9, battled Oregon's 6-8 Phillipina Kiel and 6-7 Kennedy Basham on the post. The Ducks became especially long when 6-foot-3 Grace VanSlooten, a WNBA prospect, was at the small forward spot. VanSlooten scored a game-high 21 points but committed a career-high seven turnovers.
"You have to work really hard," Brown said of defending against Oregon's size. "When you're on defense, you have to act like you're on offense posting up. You have to sit on their thigh. If they throw it over, you have to try to tip it."
The Ducks did enough defensively to put the game, but the Lopes continued to dig in on defense. Oregon went 1 for 6 with a turnover in the final four minutes, eventually closing the win out on free throws.
"This was a good game for our kids to know you're right there," Miller said. "To me, this is a winnable game. If we tipped it up again tomorrow, I'm still going to believe we're going to win this game. Our kids need to have that belief going forward. Belief is a big thing coming out of a game like this."
Despite a 30.8% shooting game, GCU put four scorers in double figures – Evans with 14, Brown with 13 and Fano and San Antonio with 10 each. San Antonio posted her second consecutive double-double with 11 rebounds but foul trouble limited her to 28 minutes.
The Lopes will return to action with a 6 p.m. Monday game against Montana.
"This game definitely sets a tone for the rest of the season," Brown said. "It gives us more confidence than we already had."
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On Thursday night, the Lopes got a glimpse of how they could belong there.
GCU took on an Oregon opponent that is huge in size and stature, having 6-foot-7 and 6-foot-8 post players and a No. 16Â national ranking in Massey Ratings, and stayed on the Ducks' heels before falling 64-56 in front of 2,136 fans at GCU Arena.
The Lopes (2-1) led in the second quarter and pulled within two late in the third quarter but the size ultimately tipped the scales. Oregon pounded the paint for 15 of its 20 made field goals and shot 13 free throws before GCU attempted its first one in the third quarter.
"We were definitely outmatched in the size department, but not in the heart department," Lopes head coach Molly Miller said.
"I was really proud of our team for what they gave out there in terms of energy and effort. If we can continue that, this is a team that could, with every chance on the court, win out. It was a game that was very winnable for us, so we're right there."GCU unnerved Oregon for six first-quarter turnovers and put together a 9-0 run that extended into the second quarter when junior guard Trinity San Antonio beat the shot clock with a fadeaway for a 13-9 edge.
But the Ducks' size continued to be difficult for the Lopes to attack for scores, although GCU only made nine turnovers.
Oregon's only first-half 3-pointer capped its scoring in a 25-19 first half, but the Ducks had scored 25 in their season opener's first quarter and 26 in their second game's second quarter.
"I don't think we were at our best, but I give them the credit, especially in the first quarter, we were on our heels," said Oregon coach Kelly Graves, who had the nation's N
o. 2 team when the 2019-20 season was halted and made two previous Elite Eight trips. "We didn't react well to the pressure. We couldn't shoot the ball. Neither team shot well. I give them a ton of credit. We built a nice lead and they cut it to two, but defensively we were pretty good."This was a good win. I would think they're going to win that conference."
Just when it seemed Oregon (3-0) broke the game open with its largest lead at 41-29, GCU rallied to cut the Ducks lead to 42-40 when junior guard Naudia Evans made a 3-pointer with 1:35 to go in the third quarter.
When the lead expanded again in the fourth, Evans hit another 3 to give the Lopes one last shot with a 57-52 deficit and 4:16 remaining. GCU closed with six misses, five of which were 3s, but the Lopes gave the Ducks more of a fight than the 17.5-point underdog tag predicted.
"It proves to not only other people, but ourselves, that we can compete with anyone," said GCU graduate power forward Shay Fano, who made three 3-pointers. "We have the skill, talent and the next-man-up mentality. We have so many weapons. It can be anybody's night any given night."
Fano, off th
e bench at 6 feet, and senior guard Tiarra Brown, at 5 feet 9, battled Oregon's 6-8 Phillipina Kiel and 6-7 Kennedy Basham on the post. The Ducks became especially long when 6-foot-3 Grace VanSlooten, a WNBA prospect, was at the small forward spot. VanSlooten scored a game-high 21 points but committed a career-high seven turnovers."You have to work really hard," Brown said of defending against Oregon's size. "When you're on defense, you have to act like you're on offense posting up. You have to sit on their thigh. If they throw it over, you have to try to tip it."
The Ducks did enough defensively to put the game, but the Lopes continued to dig in on defense. Oregon went 1 for 6 with a turnover in the final four minutes, eventually closing the win out on free throws.
"This was a good game for our kids to know you're right there," Miller said. "To me, this is a winnable game. If we tipped it up again tomorrow, I'm still going to believe we're going to win this game. Our kids need to have that belief going forward. Belief is a big thing coming out of a game like this."
Despite a 30.8% shooting game, GCU put four scorers in double figures – Evans with 14, Brown with 13 and Fano and San Antonio with 10 each. San Antonio posted her second consecutive double-double with 11 rebounds but foul trouble limited her to 28 minutes.
The Lopes will return to action with a 6 p.m. Monday game against Montana.
"This game definitely sets a tone for the rest of the season," Brown said. "It gives us more confidence than we already had."
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Team Stats
Oregon
GCU
FG%
.345
.308
3FG%
.214
.250
FT%
.724
.600
RB
50
39
TO
12
9
STL
5
7
Game Leaders
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G/F
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