Evans' clutch shot gives GCU win in OT thriller

Sunday, December 17

Moscow, Idaho

3 p.m. MST

Grand Canyon

8-2,2-0WAC

Idaho

4-5,0-0Big Sky

OT 1

Grand Canyon

Idaho

12/17/2023 5:42:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Lopes rally in 4th quarter at Idaho behind Brown’s 19 points

By: Nick Macdonald

MOSCOW, Idaho – When Grand Canyon's Naudia Evans has the ball in her hand with the clock ticking down, it's safe to assume the ball is going in.

Evans broke an overtime tie by battling through traffic and sinking a buzzer-beating, floating jumper over the defense to secure a 65-63 victory against Idaho at ICCU Center on Sunday.

The game-winner was Evans' second of the season, mirroring her buzzer-beating 3-point shot that downed Saint Mary's in the season opener at home on Nov. 7.

In GCU's sixth consecutive win, Lopes senior Tiarra Brown scored a game-high 19 points and added eight rebounds and two steals. The forward shot 5 of 7 from the free throw line to help the Lopes (8-2) shoot 72% there for the game and keep pace with Idaho (4-5), which committed 21 turnovers.

Evans finished with 13 points, five assists and four rebounds while playing the entire 45 minutes, and GCU got a bench boost from graduate forward Shay Fano's 12 points in 24 minutes on 6-of-10 shooting.

Ice cold in Idaho 🥶#LopesUp pic.twitter.com/fZ8gPMACk2
— GCU Women's Basketball (@GCU_WBB) December 18, 2023

Brown scored six points during the Lopes' 18-9 start at Idaho, which had won an 81-78 overtime game at GCU last season.

The Lopes stretched that lead to 27-12 off four consecutive points from Evans and by shutting out the Vandals for the first 4:31 of the second quarter.

GCU lost the lead the lead in the third quarter, as the Lopes struggled to 6-of-31 shooting from the field over the second and third quarters.

Idaho took a 40-36 lead to the fourth quarter, when GCU repeated its second-quarter defensive effort with another extended shutout of the Vandals. GCU went on an 11-0 run with six points from Fano and five from Brown while keeping Idaho scoreless for the first 5:41 of the fourth quarter.

The Vandals went 2 for 8 from the field in the fourth quarter but survived by scoring seven consecutive points on free throws before sophomore forward Sarah Brans made a 3-pointer to put Idaho ahead 53-51 with 1:30 remaining in regulation.

Evans missed a shot to tie, but junior guard Trinity San Antonio grabbed the offensive rebound and kicked the ball out to Brown, who returned it to Evans for a curling drive that drew a foul with 13 seconds remaining. That set up her first clutch moment — making two free throws to tie the game.

Brown and Evans doubled the ball at the end of regulation to force a wild Idaho potential game-winner that missed to put GCU in overtime for the first time this season.

With the Vandals going 5 for 15 from the field in the fourth quarter and overtime, GCU still trailed 61-60 until San Antonio scored on a hesitation drive while being fouled and converted the and-one opportunity for a 63-61 Lopes lead with 35 seconds remaining.

An Idaho second-chance bucket tied the game at 63-63, leaving the Lopes 21 seconds to come with a game-winning play. After taking the clock down, GCU worked the ball back to Evans on the right wing. Her dribble drive split the Idaho defense before she pulled up from 13 feet and banked the game-winner to keep GCU undefeated on the road this season.

The game also marked the season debut of fifth-year senior guard Jada Holland, who played for the Lopes as a freshman and transferred back this summer. She played 23 minutes off the bench and tallied four points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals.

GCU stays on the road for a Wednesday game at Liberty (3-9) that will tip off at noon (Phoenix time).