Lopes host GCU Classic beginning Friday afternoon

Friday, November 24

Phoenix, Ariz.

2:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Fresno State

Photo by: Wesley Kurz

11/23/2023 3:56:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Four games in two days; GCU to play Fresno State and Nicholls

By: Nick Macdonald

GCU hosts the annual GCU Classic presented by Talking Stick Resorts. Two games will be played Friday, Nov. 24 and Saturday, Nov. 25 with tip-off times beginning at 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. each day.
The Lopes face Fresno State Friday and Nicholls Saturday. The matchup against the Bulldogs is the first in program history, while Saturday's contest against the Colonels is the third in the past three seasons between the two teams. Eastern Illinois will also play both Fresno State and Nicholls in two neutral site contests.
GCU is a perfect 4-0 in the GCU Classic since the 2021-22 season.

Junior guards Trinity San Antonio and Naudia Evans are tied for the team lead in points per game, each averaging 12.8 and are a combined 41.3% from the field. San Antonio has scored in double figures in each game this season, while Evan's has hit double digit points in 3 of 4 contests.
The Lopes enter the GCU Classic with a 35.6% mark from three and 7.8 three pointers per game, good for 1st and 2nd in the WAC, respectively. GCU has shot 33% or better as a team in 3 of 4 contests, including a season-best 55.6% at North Dakota.
GCU has out-stolen it's opponents in three straight games, with a season best 11 vs. Montana. It has 26 steals in the past three games and has totaled that same number at GCU Arena this season. It has forced 63 turnovers this season, including 29 in the past two games against Oregon and Montana.
Head Coach Molly Miller ranks fourth among active coaches in winning % (.841) with 8+ seasons of coaching. She trails only Kim Caldwell (Marshall), Geno Auriemma (UConn) and Kim Mulkey (LSU).
The Lopes are 38-10 at GCU Arena since Molly Miller took the helm in 2020. GCU has won at least 12 games at home in each of her three seasons in Phoenix, including a season-high 13 last year. The Lopes have 17 games at home this season, including six of the first seven regular season contests.

In three games at GCU Arena, junior guard Naudia Evans has showcased her ability to score in front of the home fans. She is averaging 15.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.0 steals and is shooting 48.6% from the floor and 47.8% from three in games played in Phoenix.
Evans made five three pointers in the home opener vs. Saint Mary's for 15 total points and knocked down two threes for 14 points vs. Oregon. She recorded a season-high 16 points on 4-of-7 from three point range with 6 rebounds and 4 assists against Montana.

GCU enters the GCU Classic ranked No. 19 in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 poll. It began the season at No. 18, and climbed to No. 13 following two wins to begin the season.
The Lopes are the only team from the WAC ranked in the top-25, with only California Baptist earning receiving votes from the conference.

Fresno State enters the GCU Classic 4-1 overall with a perfect 4-0 home record. It dropped its lone contest on the road to Cal State Bakersfield and has yet to play a neutral site game.
The Bulldogs come in 48th in the country and 2nd in the Mountain West in turnovers forced per game (21.4). It is also 43rd in the nation in turnover margin (6.0).
Fresno State averages 76.2 points per game with a scoring defense of 54.6 points allowed, both of which are third in the Mountain West.
Three players are averaging double figures, led by Mia Jacobs (15.5). Jacobs is also averaging 7.8 rebounds per game with a team-best 31 total boards.
Kylee Fox is fifth in the Mountain West with 12 steals. She has three games with three or more steals, including a pair of four steal performances against Fresno Pacific and UC Merced.
Nicholls enters Phoenix 3-2 overall with a 1-2 record away from home.
The Colonels average 16.4 assists per game, best in the Southland and 68th in the country. It's field goal percentage has been impressive through five games, shooting 45% from the floor (2nd in the Southland).
Like Fresno State, Nicholls forces plenty of turnovers at 20.4 per game, good for 63rd in the nation and second in the Southland.
Betzalys Delgado is 22nd in the nation in assists (30) and assists per game (6.0).
Lexi Alexander leads the Colonels in scoring (13.8) and has two double-doubles to her name as she also averages 7.0 rebounds per contest.

The Lopes conclude a five game home stand with UT Rio Grande Valley Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m.
The game will be broadcast live on Fox 10 Xtra and ESPN +.
The team will be promoting First Responder's Night. The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive an exclusive State Forty Eight First Responder+GCU shirt. For tickets, visit GCULopes.com/Tickets and enter promo code JOINPHXPD.