Marquee matchup set for Saturday afternoon

Saturday, December 30

Phoenix, Ariz.

2 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Middle Tennessee

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Phoenix, AZ Dec. 27, 2023: Grand Canyon Antelopes takes down Arizona Christian 115-41 at Global Credit Union Arena . Photo David Kadlubowski/GCU

Photo by: David Kadlubowski

12/29/2023 4:23:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Mid-major, top-20 teams face off in WAC/C-USA contest at GCU

By: Nick Macdonald

Saturday, Dec. 30 \| 2 p.m. \| Global Credit Union Arena \| Phoenix, Ariz.

	MIDDLE TENNESSEE LADY RAIDERS 10-3	at	GRAND CANYON LOPES 9-3

WATCH: ESPN+ \| STATS: LINK \| TICKETS: LINK \| GAME NOTES: LINK

THIS GAME

GCU closes out nonconference play with a marquee matchup Saturday afternoon as it hosts Middle Tennessee in the second of two games in the WAC/C-USA scheduling initiative.
The Lady Raiders are ranked No. 8 in the most recent College Insider Mid Major Top 25 poll, with GCU coming in at No. 17.
Middle Tennessee's NET ranking of 50 is the best opponent ranking the Lopes have faced this season.

DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DEFENSE

GCU has held opponents to 54.6 points per game this season, ranking 35th in the nation and first in the WAC.
The Lopes have forced double-digit turnovers in every game played this season and have calculated at least 15 forced turnovers in six straight games. It most recently forced 33 turnovers at home vs. Arizona Christian on Wednesday.
The 65 points given up at Liberty on Dec. 20 were the most GCU has allowed since a 76-71 loss vs. Montana on Nov. 20. In the last eight games, GCU has held opponents to 50 points or less four times and 60 points or less six times.
GCU is outscoring its opposition 16.3-10.8 in the first quarter and 16.7-14.3 in the fourth.

STORYLINES

Junior guard Trinity San Antonio has showcased her offensive abilities this season, including her ability to find open players. San Antonio is second in the WAC in assists per game (4.3) and in total assists (51). She has had five games with five or more assists as GCU has gone 4-1 in those contests. Her 1.28-to-1 assist/turnover ratio ranks fifth in the WAC.
Junior guard Naudia Evans is second in the WAC in 3-point percentage (41.4%). Evans has made three or more 3s in four games, and has made at least one 3 in seven straight contests. The guard has also been a presence in the rebounding department with seven games of four or more rebounds.
GCU is first in the WAC in field goal perentage defense (36.6%). It has held opponents to less than 40% from the floor seven times and less than 30% three times.
The Lopes tallied 26 steals in a victory over Arizona Christian on Wednesday and improved their steals per game tally to 10.4, good for 53rd in the nation and third in the WAC. It has five games with double-digit steals, including three of its last five.
Head coach Molly Miller ranks fourth among active coaches in winning percentage (.842) with at least eight seasons of coaching. Miller recently earned her 250th career win at home vs. Arizona Christian and holds a 250-47 all-time record and 70-30 mark at GCU. She trails only Geno Auriemma (UConn), Kim Caldwell (Marshall) and Kim Mulkey (LSU) in winning percentage.
The Lopes are 42-10 at Global Credit Union Arena since 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 and are 5-2 there so far.

SCOUTING REPORT

Middle Tennessee enters Phoenix with a 10-3 record, including a 3-1 away record. It has won four straight, including a win over WAC member Stephen F. Austin at home.
The Lady Raiders rank 25th in the country in fewest turnovers per game. They average 12.8 per contest, while forcing 16.5 per game.
Middle Tennessee ia 40th in the nation in blocks per game (4.8). Anastasiia Boldyreva is fourth among all Division I players with 42 blocks and sixth in blocks per game (3.23).
The Lady Raiders have four players averaging double figures, led by Savannah Wheeler (15.5). Wheeler also leads the team in assists (59) and is shooting just shy of 40% from 3-point range.
The Lady Raiders like to shoot the 3-ball, averaging 23.6 3-point attempts per game. Jaylynn Gregory is sixth in the country in attempted 3-pointers (107), and she is 47th in made threes (31).

LAST TIME THEY MET

Saturday marks the first time in program history that these two teams will meet.
GCU fell to Liberty in the first WAC/C-USA matchup while Middle Tennessee defeated Stephen F. Austin at home.

WHAT'S NEXT?

GCU remains home and returns to conference action with back-to-back home games versus Southern Utah and Utah Tech next week.
The Lopes and Thunderbirds meet Thursday at 6 p.m. with live coverage on ESPN+.