Lopes face Southern Utah in semifinals Friday afternoon

Friday, March 10

Las Vegas, Nev.

3 p.m. MT / 2 p.m. PT

Grand Canyon

(2) Southern Utah

Photo by: David Kadlubowski

3/9/2023 6:09:00 PM | Women's Basketball

GCU seeks third straight trip to WAC Tournament Final

By: Nick Macdonald

Friday, Mar. 10 \| 3 p.m. (MT) / 2 PM (PT) \| Orleans Arena \| Las Vegas, Nev.

	(2) SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS (21-9, 16-2 WAC)	vs.	(3) GRAND CANYON LOPES (21-9, 12-6 WAC)

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

For the third time this season and second time in eight days, Grand Canyon faces Southern Utah in the WAC Tournament Semifinals. Winner earns a trip to the Championship round Saturday, Mar. 11.
While Southern Utah is 2-0 against the Lopes this season, both games have gone down to the wire, with each game tied with 3:30 left in regulation.
A win for GCU would mark the third consecutive season it has advanced to the Championship round.

GCU ranks 4th in the nation in steals per game (12.7), 9th in turnovers forced per game (21.33) and 29th in turnover margin (4.33). The Lopes have forced 15+ turnovers in 25 of 30 games this season, including 20+ in five of the past six games.
The Lopes broke a 17 year WAC Tournament record in Wednesday's 85-80 victory over Seattle U, making 34 free throws. Sophomore Naudia Evans went a perfect 10-of-10, including 8-of-8 in the 4th quarter. Junior Olivia Lane and Evans rank 4th and 5th in the WAC in free throw percentage, respectively.
GCU mounted a comeback and scored 35 4th quarter points to defeat Seattle U, the most points scored in the 4th quarter all season. Alaina Harper started the momentum for the Lopes and scored seven of her 11 total points in the 4th quarter. The freshman is averaging 12.5 points in her last two games played.
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, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game and has recorded 20 double digit scoring games on the year. She is shooting 48.2% from the floor including a 35.1% mark from three.
Head Coach Molly Miller ranks third in the nation in winning percentage (.849), tallying a 241-43 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.

Sophomore guard Aaliyah Collins ranks among the best in the nation in steals (80) and steals per game (2.86), ranking 15th in steals per game and 19th in steals. Both categories are second in the WAC.
Collins has recorded three or more steals 17 times this season with six games with five or more. She has tallied a steal in 23 of 28 games played and has 47 against WAC competition. The sophomore was one steal shy of tying the school D1 era record, talling seven vs. UT Arlington Feb. 25 and enters Friday four steals shy of tying the school's D1 era single season mark.
A transfer from Chicago State, who was a member of the WAC during the 2021-22 season, Collins totaled 65 steals last season with the Cougars with 34 in conference play.

GCU enters WAC Vegas third in the conference in offensive rebounds per game, averaging 13.2 per contest.
In conference play and tourney play, the Lopes have gathered double digit offensive boards in 17 of 19 games played, with 12 games with 13 or more. For the season, 25 of 30 games played have resulted in a double digit offensive rebounding effort.
The Lopes have only been outrebounded on the offensive glass four times this season and hold a 2-2 record when it's out-rebounded on the offensive end.

Southern Utah was named WAC regular season champions after going 16-2 in conference play with an overall record of 21-9.
The Thunderbirds earned the No. 2 seed in the WAC Tournament via the WAC resume seeding system. It surved and advanced in the WAC Tournament after a thrilling ending that saw Cherita Daugherty connect from three as time expired to defeat New Mexico State, 62-61, in the quarterfinal round Wednesday.
Southern Utah ranks 15th in the country in rebounds per game (42.13) and is sixth in defensive rebounds per game (30.8). Lizzy Williamson's 7.5 boards per contest ranks 16th in the country. She is also 11th in the nation in blocks with 70.
Williamson was named Defensive Player of the Year, while Tomekia Whitman received Newcomer and Sixth Woman of the Year honors and head coach Tracy Sanders Coach of the Year.
Daugherty leads the team in points per game (15.0) and is first on the team in steals (32) and second in assists (105).

These two teams met a little over a week ago in Cedar City, Utah, with Southern Utah prevailing 71-63 as both teams closed out the regular season.
The game was tied 58-58 with 3:30 left to play before the Thunderbirds closed the game on an 11-5 run.
Southern Utah shot a season game-high 35 free throws with Daugherty shooting 16-of-17 from the line.
Alaina Harper led the Lopes with 14 points while Tiarra Brown had 5 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists.

GCU enters Wednesday's quarterfinal game 5-4 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 4-2 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.