Lopes bounce back with 35-point victory

Saturday, January 27

Phoenix, Ariz.

2 p.m.

Grand Canyon

17-4,9-1WAC

UT Arlington

9-10,5-4WAC

UT Arlington

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Wesley Kurz

1/27/2024 5:42:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Lockdown defense holds UTA to 35 points, lowest for GCU opponent since 2018

By: Nick Macdonald

Entering Global Credit Union Arena on Saturday afternoon, the biggest question mark heading into the showdown with UT Arlington was the response Grand Canyon would have after its eight-game winning streak was snapped Thursday night.

The answer was Grand Canyon's fewest points allowed since Feb. 10, 2018.

GCU's defense shined in defeating UT Arlington 70-35 for its 10th home this season. The Lopes moved to 17-4 overall and 9-1 in WAC play, maintaining their half-game lead over California Baptist. GCU has now won double-digit games at its home venue for the fifth straight season.

"Wake-up calls can be a tough pill to swallow in the moment, but if it allows us to regroup and get a little shot in the arm," Lopes head coach Molly Miller said. "Wake-up calls are a necessity. You can get comfortable in situations by being undefeated in the conference, and it was good for us to regroup. That's a good team we played today, and in the disappointment of a loss, it's how you respond that matters, as this season is a long one. I am happy with how we did respond and hopefully we can continue this play."

GCU forced 19 turnovers with eight steals, led by junior guard Trinity San Antonio's tenacious on-ball defense for three steals. San Antonio, who leads the squad with 41 steals, has nine in her last two games and 20 in her last six to average just under five per game in that span.

The Lopes defense held the Mavericks (9-10, 5-4 WAC) to two second-chance points as they won the rebounding margin 46-30. The 46 boards were the most in a game this season as four Lopes had six or more rebounds, led by senior forward Olivia Lane (eight). Lane led the squad with 14 points with a 6-of-6 clip from the free throw line.

GCU seniors Tiarra Brown and Jada Holland filled up the stat sheet with a combined 18 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists while graduate Shay Fano had eight points, seven boards and two assists in eight minutes off the bench.

"We all talked in the locker room and discussed what we wanted to do as a team coming out of a loss," Lane said. "Everyone was on the same page and it was important for us to find each other and everyone do their job."

Coming off a 31% shooting performance against Stephen F. Austin on Thursday, GCU shot 42% from the floor and a nearly perfect clip from the free throw line, going 15 of 16. The Lopes, who entered as the WAC leader in 3-point percentage (36%), tied a season low with 10 attempts from 3-point range with three makes. GCU scored 42 points in the paint as it improved to 14-1 when shooting better than 40% from the field.

The Lopes shook off rust in the beginning of the game, missing its first three attempts from the floor. Lane and San Antonio fueled the early offense with 12 of the 16 first-quarter points, with Lane tallying six points and six rebounds.

GCU's defense swarmed the Mavericks in the second quarter, holding them to 1-of-11 shooting from the field for a 32-13 halftime lead. The Mavericks took their most shots in the third quarter (16) but were held to four makes and nine points for the third consecutive single-digit quarter and a 47-22 Lopes lead.

GCU eclipsed 70 points in a game for the 10th time this season with 10 Lopes scoring. UT Arlington's Avery Brittingham and Taliyah Clark came into the contest averaging 25 points per game combined and were held to three points on 1-of-10 shooting.

The Lopes head back on the road for Thursday night game at Seattle U before returning home to host Utah Valley at 2 p.m. Saturday for Girl Scouts Day.