State champ: GCU tops NAU, sweeps Arizona D-I foes

Sunday, December 29

Phoenix, Ariz.

2 p.m.

Grand Canyon

13-2,0-0WAC

Northern Arizona

9-4,0-0Big Sky

Northern Ariz.

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Jayden Todd

12/29/2024 5:46:00 PM | Women's Basketball, Paul Coro

Box Score Photo Gallery

Lopes become 1st program to beat 3 in-state foes in same season

By: Paul Coro

Part of becoming the best program Grand Canyon can be is proving to be the best women's basketball team in the state.

GCU won a de facto state championship with a permanent spot in Arizona history Sunday, when the Lopes defeated Northern Arizona 79-70 to become the first Arizona women's basketball program to beat three in-state Division I teams in one season.

With its 11th consecutive win, GCU (13-2) followed up a 69-66 victory at Arizona and a 70-59 neutral-site triumph against Arizona State with a wire-to-wire win against the Lumberjacks in front of a holiday break crowd of 1,689 fans.

"I'm ecstatic for the university, our players and our staff that has worked so hard every single game," Miller said. "When you're playing not only everyone in the state, but top-quality teams, to come out with wins against three really good basketball teams is a good feeling. It says a lot about our team in terms of how we're approaching this year."

GCU shot 54.4% from the field against a 9-4 NAU team with an opponent shooting high of 47.3% this season. The Lopes have made more than 50% of their shots in nine of 15 games this season.

In a tone-setting, 23-10 first quarter, GCU senior forward Tiarra Brown powered her way to nine points on the interior. The Lopes did not take a 3-pointer until the second quarter and only went 5 for 11 on 3s for the game.

Instead, they opted to expose post mismatches and take advantage of driving lanes. Brown (19 points) and graduate forward Laura Erikstrup (17 points) led the scoring and each grabbed seven rebounds.

GCU led by as much as 18 early in the third quarter (49-31) but was tested late when NAU whittled the lead to 69-64 with 3:16 remaining.

With the shot clock winding down, Brown faked passing out of the post and scored. Lopes senior guard Alyssa Durazo-Frescas stepped back into her nation-leading 60th 3-pointer to help put NAU away.

"It's an awesome feeling," Erikstrup said. "For this program, it's establishing that we've put ourselves on the map and we feel like we belong. It's continuing that momentum. Going 3 for 3, there's no better feeling for that."

Erikstrup scored in double digits for the 11th consecutive game after doing so in no more than two consecutive games previously in her five-year career. When the final buzzer hit Sunday, she ran down the sideline to hug Miller, knowing what it meant for the fifth-year Lopes coach.

"Winning for her is no better feeling," Erikstrup said. "She gives me so much trust and confidence. I could not be happier. This is an amazing environment and an amazing feel. The fans we had today really helped us. It was awesome."

With senior guard Trinity San Antonio getting 10 of her 15 points and two of her seven assists in the second quarter, the Lopes were using their speed and ball pressure to flip turnovers into a 15-0, first-half advantage in fastbreak points.

NAU used a 1-3-1 zone defense with some success, but bench players Nneka Obiazor and Ale'jah Douglas scored in pockets to finish the third quarter with a 61-50 GCU lead.

All the while, Erikstrup was limiting NAU leading scorer Sophie Glancey to two points until the fourth quarter. Erikstrup fought over the top to deny deep- and high-post chances, and GCU collectively rotated well defensively to limit NAU's 3-point shooting game to 11 fewer attempts than its average.

Miller credited a hard practice Friday on the day of the Park Gilbert win that was followed by a quality practice Saturday.

"Even before the tip, I thought we had an advantage from the prep," Miller said.

GCU closed out the win from the free throw line, where Brown went 7 for 7 to put be at a career-best 74.5% clip this season and Durazo-Frescas sank the final two free throws to reach 1,000 career points.

Ale'jah Doughlas and Tiarra Brown

"It boosts our confidence that we already had," Brown said. "It was a good ending going into conference."

The Lopes held the Lumberjacks 12 points below their season scoring average (81.8). NAU tied its season high with 20 turnovers, becoming the eighth GCU opponent this season to commit at least 20 turnovers.

Miller credited her coaching staff's preparation and the home turnout despite GCU students being off campus for the holidays.

"This was really a team win, from marketing to administration to the band that was here – which didn't sound like a skeleton crew – to cheer and dance," Miller said. "Having that support around women's basketball in a game like this really means a lot to us.

"I hope the fans enjoyed themselves and want to come back to see these girls work, play hard and compete. It was a fun atmosphere for women's basketball, and it was a good pressure game for us. We heard the outside noise about this game, so it was a good test to see how we could handle some of this adversity."

The Lopes, tied for the nation's eighth-longest active winning streak, will start WAC play Saturday at Southern Utah.