GCU set for final regular-season trip in Utah

Tuesday, February 28

St. George, Utah

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Utah Tech

Photo by: Zach Campbell

2/27/2023 9:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Lopes face Utah Tech on Tuesday, Southern Utah on Thursday before WAC Tournament

By: Nick Macdonald


Grand Canyon Lopes (19-8, 11-5 WAC)	at	Utah Tech Trailblazers (17-10, 9-7 WAC)	Southern Utah Thunderbirds (13-14, 7-8 WAC)
		Tuesday, Feb. 28 7 p.m.	Thursday, Mar. 2 6:30 p.m.
Game Notes		Watch Live Stats	Watch Live Stats

The Grand Canyon women's basketball team heads to Utah for its final two regular-season games ias it faces Utah Tech at 7 p.m. Tuesday, followed by Southern Utah at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Each opponent ranks in the top five of the WAC Resume Seeding System, with the Trailblazers at No. 5 and the Thunderbirds at No. 2.

5 NOTES ABOUT THE LOPES

GCU ranks fourth in the nation in steals per game (13.1), eight in turnovers forced per game (21.4) and 36th in turnover margin (plus-4.1 per game). The Lopes have forced 15 or more turnovers in 22 of 27 games this season, including 20 or more in each of the past three games.
Sophomore Aaliyah Collins has totaled 18 steals in her past three games, including seven vs. UT Arlington. The seven against the Mavericks was one shy of tying the GCU Division I era single-game record. She ranks 13th in the nation in steals per game (3.0) and 19th in steals (75).
Junior Tiarra Brown extended her double-digit scoring streak to 10 games, and in that span, is averaging 13.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game. She recorded her second double-double of the season with 14 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists vs. Utah Valley.
Since its Jan. 25 loss at home vs. Southern Utah, GCU is 5-2 and has shot 40% or higher in each contest, with four games over 45%. The Lopes rank third in the WAC in field goal percentage at 44% for the season.
Head coach Molly Miller ranks third in the nation in winning percentage (.851), tallying a 239-42 record in six seasons at Drury and four at GCU. She trails only UConn head coach Geno Auriemma (.884) and LSU head coach Kim Mulkey (.860) among active head coaches who have competed in four seasons.

LOCKDOWN DEFENSE FROM COLLINS

Sophomore guard Aaliyah Collins ranks among the best in the nation second in steals (75) and steals per game (3.0), ranking 13th in steals per game and 19th in steals. Collins ranks second in both categories in the WAC.
Collins has recorded three or more steals 16 times this season with six games of five or more. She has tallied a steal in 21 of 25 games played and has 42 against WAC competition. The sophomore was one steal shy of tying the school Division I era record with seven against UT Arlington on Saturday.
A transfer from Chicago State, Collins totaled 65 steals last season with the Cougars with 34 in WAC play.
GCU is fourth in the nation in steals per game (13.1). It has registered 10 or more steals in 20 of 27 games with nine games with 15 or more.

IN HER OWN LANE

Since coming back Dec. 8 from an offseason injury, junior forward Olivia Lane has made an impact on the glass and in the scoring column for the Lopes. Jan. 19's 69-62 overtime victory over New Mexico State added to that testament, as she pulled down 19 boards and added 16 points in the victory. The 19 rebounds tied for second in the GCU Division I era for a single game.
Lane has recorded 13 double-digit scoring games in WAC play. She's third on the team in rebounds this season (104) despite missing the first seven games.
For the season, Lane is averaging 12.0 points and 5.2 rebounds while shooting 48.7% from the field and 82.7% from the free throw line. She has been exceptional from the free throw line this season, including 26-of-30 accuracy in her last six games.

SCOUTING REPORTS

Utah Tech enters Tuesday 17-10 overall and 9-7 in WAC play. The Trailblazers are 9-3 at home and have won four of their past six games.
Breaunna Gillen leads the conference in points with 18.2 per game. She has scored in double digits in every contest this season, with three straight 20-plus performances.
Along with being the conference leader in points, she is also the WAC leader in assists per game (6.3). She has 171 assists and 38 steals.
Utah Tech is shooting 34.4% from 3-point range and 73.3% from the free throw line. It has five players, with 30 or more free throw attempts, who are shooting 70% or higher on the season.,
The Trailblazers are fifth in the latest WAC Resume Seeding System. The top four teams in the system earn a first-round bye in the WAC Tournament, starting March 6 in Las Vegas. GCU ranks third, one spot above California Baptist.
Southern Utah enters as the conference leader at 18-9 overall and 14-2 in the WAC. It is currently second in the WAC resume seeding system.
The Thunderbirds own the third-best home record in the WAC at 11-1, with its lone home loss coming Nov. 26 vs. UC Santa Barbara.
Southern Utah ranks eighth in the country in defensive rebounds at 30.6 per game. In rebounds per game (42.2) it ranks 19th in the nation.
Lizzy Williamson is first in the WAC and 25th in the country in rebounds per game (10.0). She has 14 double-digit rebound games this season.
Cherita Daugherty leads the team with 15.0 points per game. She is averaging 16.7 points per game in conference play and is second on the team with 96 assists on the season.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Lopes will await their seed in the WAC Tournament, beginning March 6 in Las Vegas.
The top four seeds of the 12-team tournament earn a first-round bye. GCU is currently the No. 3 seed in the WAC Resume Seeding System, as of Feb. 27.