Lopes return from break, host Park on Friday

Friday, December 27

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Park Gilbert

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Phoenix, AZ Dec. 21, 2024 : The Lopes secure their ninth win in a row with a 79-52 victory over Georgia Southern at Global Credit Union Arena. David Kadlubowski/GCU

Photo by: David Kadlubowski

12/26/2024 1:33:00 PM | Women's Basketball

GCU looks to extend Division I-era win streak to 10 games

By: Nick Macdonald

Friday, Dec. 27 \| 6 p.m. \| Global Credit Union Arena \| Phoenix, Ariz.

	PARK GILBERT BUCCANEERS (6-4)	at	GRAND CANYON LOPES (11-2)

WATCH: ESPN+ \| STATS: LINK \| TICKETS: LINK

THIS GAME

After a holiday break, GCU resumes play at home versus crosstown school Park Gilbert at 6 p.m.
The Lopes look to extend a nine-game winning streak. Their last win over Georgia Southern set a new program Division I-era record for wins in a row, with the last loss coming Nov. 18 at No. 23 Oregon.
GCU is 9-0 at home and four wins away from tying the all-time wins record at home. The 2023-24 squad tied that mark last year, with this season's team having 10 more games at Global Credit Union Arena.

STORYLINES

The quest for a perfect December continues with Park Gilbert on Friday night. GCU is 19-5 in December since the 2022-23 season and 13-1 over the last two years.
GCU is 19th in the nation with a 48.4 field goal percentage. It has eclipsed 50% or better in each of the last five games and has shot under 40% only three times this season.
The defense has forced 20.9 turnovers per game, third best in the WAC. It has forced opposing offenses into 20-plus turnovers six times this season, including 96 over the last four games. Dynamic defensive duo Trinity San Antonio and Tiarra Brown each have 37 steals, tied for 15th in the nation.
GCU has dished out 20-plus assists on eight occasions this season, including each of the last five games. The squad is 8-0 in games it has 20 or more assists and is 17th in the country with 18.6 per game. San Antonio is 12th in the country with 76 on the season, with Callie Cooper (40) and Tiarra Brown (35) each having 35-plus..
Laura Erikstrup leads the WAC and is 25th in the country in field goal percentage, shooting 58.2% from the floor. She has tallied double-digit point totals in nine straight games, two of which have been 20-plus point performances. She has shot 63% or better in five straight games.
Alyssa Durazo-Frescas enters Friday second in the nation in 3-pointers made (48) and fourth in 3-pointers made per game (3.7). The senior has made three or more 3s in four straight games and 10 times this season.
The Lopes are 58-12 at Global Credit Union Arena since Molly Miller took the helm in 2020. GCU has won at least 12 games at home in each of her three seasons in Phoenix and tied the Division I-era program record for most home wins in a season (13) on Feb. 24, 2024.
Miller ranks fifth among active coaches in winning % (.836) with 9+ seasons of coaching. She trails only Geno Auriemma (UConn), Kim Caldwell (Tennessee), Kim Mulkey (LSU), and Jeff Hans (Northern Kentucky).

SCOUTING THE WARRIORS

Park Gilbert enters 6-4 and on a three-game winning streak (in non-exhibitions), dating back to Nov. 30. Exhibitions include contests against D-I opponents.
The Buccaneers have played fellow WAC schools Utah Valley and Southern Utah, dropping both contests.
Three players average double figures, led by Savannah Huerta with 18.3 points per game.
Alynna Palacios is nearly averaging a double-double with 11.6 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. She has a team-high 47 steals.
Park is shooting 36% from 3-point range and has kept its opposition to 28% from beyond the arc.

WHAT'S NEXT?

GCU rounds out the year at home with another in-state opponent, Northern Arizona, at 2 p.m. Sunday.
The Lopes previously defeated Arizona State and Arizona this season and seek to become the first Division I school in the state's history to defeat all other Division I programs in the same season.
GCU ranks No. 9 in the CollegeInsider mid-major poll, while NAU ranks 17th.