Lopes begin WAC Tournament Wednesday night vs. Seattle U

Wednesday, March 8

Las Vegas, Nev.

9 p.m. MT / 8 p.m. PT

Grand Canyon

(11) Seattle U

3/7/2023 8:28:00 PM | Women's Basketball

GCU closes out quarterfinal round at 9 PM (MT) / 8 PM (PT)

By: Nick Macdonald

Wednesday, Mar. 8 \| 9 p.m. (MT) / 8 PM (PT) \| Orleans Arena \| Las Vegas, Nev.

	(11) SEATTLE U REDHAWKS (6-23, 5-13 WAC)	vs.	(3) GRAND CANYON LOPES (20-9, 12-6 WAC)

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

GCU begins the 2023 WAC Tournament in the quarterfinal round vs. (11) Seattle U, earning a three seed and a first round bye for the second consecutive season.
The Lopes face Seattle U for the second time this season. GCU won the lone meeting, 78-43, at home in Phoenix Feb. 18.
The winner of this game will take on the winner of (2) Southern Utah and (7) New Mexico State Friday, Mar. 10 at 3 PM (MT)/2 PM (PT).

GCU ranks 4th in the nation in steals per game (12.9), 9th in turnovers forced per game (21.38) and 29th in turnover margin (4.31). The Lopes have forced 15+ turnovers in 24 of 29 games this season, including 20+ in four of the past five games.
Junior forward Tiarra Brown was named to the All-WAC First Team and All-WAC Defensive Team Sunday afternoon. Brown is averaging 11.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game and has recorded 19 double digit scoring games on the year. She is shooting 49.2% from the floor including a 36.1% mark from three.
Sophomore Aaliyah Collins enters the WAC Tournament 14th in the nation in steals per game (2.96) and 19th in steals (80) and was named to the All-WAC Defensive Team. Collins has recorded 3+ steals in 17 games this season and has 23 steals in the past five games.
The Lopes enter Wednesday third in the WAC in field goal percentage (43.6%). Four of GCU's five starters are shooting over 40%, with graduate Evan Zars leading the team at 57.4%. The starting five of Collins, Evans, Brown, Lane and Zars combine to shoot 47.2% from the floor.
Head Coach Molly Miller ranks third in the nation in winning percentage (.848), tallying a 240-43 record in six seasons at Drury and three-plus at GCU. She trails only UConn Head Coach Geno Auriemma (.884) and LSU's Head Coach Kim Mulkey (.860) among active head coaches.*coaches who have competed in three or more seasons.

With the regular season concluding and postseason play beginning, GCU has ranked at the top of the conference in field goal percentage throughout the season and currently ranks third in the WAC in that category at 43.6%.
The Lopes have shot 40% or higher in 22 of 29 games this season. Dec. 21st's loss at UC Irvine is the only time this season GCU has shot under 30%, and under head coach Molly Miller, has shot under 30% only five times in three plus seasons. Under Miller, the team is 1-4 when shooting less than 30% and is 41-10 when shooting over 40%.

Junior forward Tiarra Brown and sophomore guard Aaliyah Collins were honored by the Western Athletic Conference Mar. 5 as Brown was named to the All-WAC First Team and All-WAC Defensive Team while Collins received All-WAC Defensive accolades.
Brown enters the WAC Tournament with averages of 11.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game. The Lopes are the third-best shooting team in the WAC, with Brown shooting 49.2% from the field and 36.1% from 3-point range. The Spanaway, Washington, native leads the team in blocked shots (14) and has totaled the second-most rebounds on the squad with 142, including 54 on offense.
The duo of Collins and Brown formed a lockdown presence against opposing offenses with the two combining for 135 steals, 36% of the team's steals. Collins ranks 14th in the country in steals per game (2.96) and 18th in total steals (80), both of which rank second in the WAC. She has 17 games with three or more steals and has tallied 23 steals in the past five games, averaging 4.6 in that span. Brown's 55 steals and 2.0 steals per game rank fourth and fifth in the conference, respectively.

Seattle U enters Wednesday at the No. 11 seed in the WAC Tournament, two days removed from an 80-78 upset victory over No. 6 UT Arlington Monday evening.
The Redhawks are 6-23 overall and finished 5-13 in WAC play.
Both GCU and Seattle U rank among the best in the WAC in three point percentage defense, with the Redhawks first in the conference and 50th in the nation at 28.4%. It's defense has held teams to less than 30% from three eight different times this season, including twice in the past four games.
Seattle U ranks fourth in the league in three point shooting percentage at 30.1%. It shot 40.9% in Monday's first round victory, with Taliyah Clark going 3-of-7 and Asta Blauenfeldt going 3-of-3.
Clark leads the team in points per game (10.4), made threes (48) and is second in assists (47), steals (32) and tied for second in blocks (17). Clark is also an 80% free throw shooter (60-of-75).
Right behind Clark in points per contest is Peyton Howard at 10.2. She leads the team in assists (77) and steals (47).

GCU defeated Seattle U 78-43 in Phoenix Feb. 18. Eleven different players scored for the Lopes, led by Tiarra Brown with 16 points, five boards and four steals.
The Lopes tallied 22 steals, second most this season. It held the Redhawks to 3-of-24 from three and 26.8% from the floor.

GCU enters Wednesday's quarterfinal game 4-4 all time in the WAC Tournament, with its first year competing in the WAC Tournament during the 2017-18 season.
Under head coach Molly Miller, GCU is 3-2 with back to back trips to the WAC Tournament final. It earned the No. 3 seed and a first round bye for the second consecutive season.