2nd-half scoring boosts Lopes, extends win streak

Saturday, December 14

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

8-2,0-0WAC

Westcliff

0-5

Westcliff

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Wesley Kurz

12/14/2024 9:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

GCU allows 31 points for fewest in program’s D-I era

By: Nick Macdonald

Grand Canyon women's basketball extended its winning streak to six games and stayed perfect at home as Lopes senior guard Alyssa Durazo-Frescas' 3-point barrage and graduates Laura Erikstrup's and Nneka Obiazor's 20-point showings paved the way for a 91-30 victory over Westcliff on Saturday night.

Notes and highlights

The 31 points allowed set a program Division I-era record for least points given up in a game. It was the lowest in all-time program history since GCU defeated Notre Dame de Namur 73-28 on Feb. 11, 2013.
Durazo-Frescas notched 23 points with seven made 3-pointers, one shy of the GCU single-game record. The senior made four in the third quarter, including three straight as the Lopes outscored the Warriors 28-2 in the third quarter.
Erikstrup finished two points shy of her career scoring high with 22 points, six rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks. Obiazor finished just shy of a double-double with 20 points and nine rebounds. It was the first game this season that three Lopes scored at least 20 points.
GCU extended its winning streak to six games and improved to 6-0 at Global Credit Union Arena. GCU tied the single-season home wins record last season (13) and have 13 home games left to play this season.

"My teammates have all the confidence in me, and they were trying to get me to break the record, but I don't think about anything when I shoot, and helping the team and scoring is at the forefront," Durazo-Frescas said.

While GCU (8-2) poured in 90 points, the offense was slow at the start, shooting 35% from the field and going 1 of 6 from 3-point range. While the Lopes led 15-3 out of the gate, they stalled with turnovers to allow Westcliff (5-3) to keep it within single digits at the first-quarter horn, 19-11. Both teams combined for 16 turnovers through the opening frame.

Westcliff trailed by nine points with 5 1/2 minutes to play before the aggressiveness of Erikstrup and senior guard Trinity San Antonio took control inside the paint, putting the Lopes to the free throw line and capitalizing with five made over the final five minutes to go ahead 38-21 at the break.

It was Durazo-Frescas' signature 3-point shot that widened the gap in the third quarter, with the California native making all four of the Lopes' made 3s for the quarter, including three in a one-minute span. GCU went into halftime with a 6-0 run, a streak that extended to 32-0 before the Warriors made a layup with 28 seconds to spare in the quarter.

"Her (Durazo-Frescas') practice and work ethic and shooting the ball before the lights even come on is why we have so much confidence in her," GCU head coach Molly Miller said. "She's a player that does everything we ask without question, and she always does things to the best of her ability. That's why I think she has so much success because she's two feet in, completely."

Obiazor led the Lopes the rest of the way, scoring 15 of her 20 points in the fourth quarter as GCU outscored Westcliff 52-10 in the second half.

"The intensity from the defense from the first half to the second half picked up," Miller said. "We have to be more disciplined with our fouls and our reaching to not send to the free throw line as much, but to execute with Alyssa and how she can open up things fast for us helps our offense. But we don't want to be able to flip it on and off. We always want to flip the light switch on."

GCU hosts the GCU Women's Basketball Have Fayth Christmas Classic presented by Tru by Hilton Phoenix Midtown on Dec. 18, 19 and 21. Teams participating are Florida Atlantic, Georgia Southern and Wright State, with the Lopes facing all three in that four-day span.