Lopes win at Seattle U for 10th WAC victory

Thursday, February 1

Seattle, Wash.

7 p.m. MST

Grand Canyon

18-4,10-1WAC

Seattle U

1-18,1-9WAC

Grand Canyon

Seattle U

2/1/2024 9:42:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Strong 2nd half keeps GCU atop conference; GCU allows fewest points in 2-game stretch of D-I era

By: Nick Macdonald

SEATTLE – After three consecutive home games, Grand Canyon headed north for a midweek road contest at Seattle U and, much like the last contest against the Redhawks, and were entrenched in a close contest before a strong third quarter sent the Lopes to a 53-40 victory Thursday night.

The Lopes (18-4, 10-1 WAC) have held their opponent to 40 points or fewer in back-to-back games for the first time in their 11-year Division I era. Including last week's 35 allowed to UT Arlington. The 75 points allowed in consecutive games is also a program low for the D-I era, helping GCU tied for the nation's 28th-best winning percentage (,818).

Junior guard Naudia Evans led the Lopes with 13 points, knocking down two critical 3-pointers to go along with six rebounds. Senior forward Tiarra Brown, from nearby Spanaway, Washington, posted 10 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals with a momentum-changing blocked shot.

Brown's block was a piece to the lockdown defense that GCU showed throughout the contest. Seattle U shot 27% from the field, 20% from 3-point range and 61% from the free throw line. The Redhawks were limited to 2-of-15 accuracy on 3s in the second half as GCU kept its opponent to under 30% from 3 for the third consecutive game.

Fifth-year point guard Jada Holland accounted for nearly half of the Lopes' steals, tying her career high with six for the fifth time while adding seven points. GCU also crashed the boards hard in the second half, grabbing 25 of its 41 rebounds in that span with 11 on the offensive end. Four Lopes had six or more boards, led by senior forward Olivia Lane (seven).

GCU led 13-7 after the first quarter, but foul trouble ensued for Lane and graduate forward Shay Fano. With both having two fouls, GCU struggled to find the basket and went 2 of 10 from the field with four of its eight points coming at the free throw line. The teams were knotted at 21 at the break.

The defense maintained its on-ball pressure, and the offense found a groove midway through the third quarter. Evans and senior guard Anna Ostlie each hit critical 3s and GCU led 35-26 after three quarters. GCU junior guard Trinity San Antonio entered the fourth quarter with zero points but flushed out the early offensive struggles with eight fourth-quarter points to help GCU take a double-digit lead late in the game.

The Lopes return to Phoenix and host Utah Valley on Saturday at 2 p.m. GCU for Girl Scouts Day, which includes pregame festivities on the Quad starting at 1 p.m. All fans who buy two boxes of Girl Scouts cookies on site will receive a free State Forty-Eight T-shirt, while limited supplies last.