Program bests set in victory over Arizona Christian

Wednesday, December 27

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

9-3,2-0WAC

115

Arizona Christian

0-2

Arizona Christian

Grand Canyon

115

Photo by: David Kadlubowski

12/27/2023 9:59:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

GCU head coach Molly Miller earns 250th career win

By: Nick Macdonald

After 25 days away from home with games in Texas, Idaho and Virginia, Grand Canyon returned home Wednesday night and set multiple Division I-era program records in defeating Arizona Christian 115-41.

The 115 points broke the Lopes' D-I scoring record, which was set last year in the Lopes' 109-53 victory over Arizona Christian. GCU's 33 assists on Wednesday also broke the previous mark of 30 set in that same game last season.

The Lopes (9-3) improved to 5-2 at home and have won seven of its last eight games heading into a pivotal nonconference Saturday home matchup versus Middle Tennessee.

Another milestone was earned at Global Credit Union Arena on Wednesday with GCU head coach Molly Miller earning her 250th career win. She is now 250-47 overall with a 70-39 record as GCU's head coach.

Miller, who has won at least 18 games in every season she has coached, is fourth in winning percentage among active D-I coaches who have coached at least eight seasons. Her .842 winning percentage sits behind only UConn's Geno Auriemma (.882), Marshall's Kim Caldwell (.872) and LSU's Kim Mulkey (.862).

"The blessing is the people I have surrounded myself with," Miller said. "We honored Shay (Fano) for her 1,000 points before the game and Tiarra (Brown) is on the brink of hitting that same honor, so it's been a treat for GCU and what an accomplishment for them. I am a proud coach to be a part of this team."

Five Lopes scored in double figures, led by graduate forward Sydney Erikstrup's career-high 19 points. Her twin sister, Laura, added 15 points, eight rebounds and four steals while junior guard Trinity San Antonio (14 points), redshirt freshman guard Asha Sra (12) and senior guard Anna Ostlie (11) each eclipsed double digits.

"We have been preparing for this game all week," Sra said. "We used this game as a steppingstone for what's to come. We were ready since practice and shootaround, and we just came out and got the win."

Fifth-year guard Jada Holland dished out nine assists in her first start of the season, and senior forward Olivia Lane had a team-high seven rebounds in 13 minutes of play.

GCU scored 23 or more points in each quarter with 35 in the second quarter alone. The Lopes were leading 24-7 after the first and 59-13 at the end of the first half.

The Lopes conclude nonconference play with a tough Middle Tennessee squad that is 10-3 and ranked 50th in the most recent NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) rankings. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. Saturday at Global Credit Union Arena.