3-game road stretch starts at Southern Utah

Saturday, February 10

Cedar City, Utah

2 p.m. MST

Grand Canyon

Southern Utah

2/9/2024 6:02:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Lopes hold half-game lead in WAC standings at 11-1

By: Nick Macdonald

February 10, 2024 \| 2 p.m. \| America First Event Center \| Cedar City, Ariz.

	SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS 6-15, 4-8 WAC	vs.	GRAND CANYON LOPES 19-4, 11-1 WAC

WATCH: ESPN+ \| STATS: LINK \| GAME NOTES: LINK

THIS GAME

After a week off, GCU returns to action with its first of three straight road games on Saturday at Southern Utah.
It is the second meeting between the two programs, with GCU prevailing 78-60 in Phoenix on Jan. 4.
The Lopes are 9-1 in the 2024 calendar year and have not dropped an away contest since Dec. 20 at Liberty. GCU is 1-4 all-time against the Thunderbirds on the road with the last victory coming Dec. 16, 2016.

DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DEFENSE

The Lopes own one of the nation's toughest defenses, ranking 13th in the country in scoring defense (54.4 points allowed per game) and 38th in steals per game (10.3). GCU's scoring margin is 36th in the country (plus-14.2) with its field goal percentage defense at 30th (36.6%).
GCU has allowed only 70 points twice this year and once in regulation, the last coming in a double-overtime victory over Seattle U on Jan. 20. In WAC play. It is holding opponents to 52.9 points per game while outscoring its opposition with just under 70 points a contest.
In conference action, GCU's go-to quarter has been the first. The Lopes have outscored opponents 240-139 in the first quarter, with a season-high 30 points at Utah Valley Jan. 18.

STORYLINES

Junior guard Naudia Evans ranks 56th in the country and first in the WAC in 3-point percentage (39.9%). She has 13 games with two or more 3-pointers made and ranks fourth in the conference in 3-pointers per game (2.1).
Junior guard Trinity San Antonio has been a ball hawk as of late, tallying 13 steals in her last four games. San Antonio is fourth in the WAC in steals (45) and third in steals per contest (2.4). The Lopes are 7-1 when she records three or more steals in a game.
GCU is outrebounding its opponents by an average of 3.9 rebounds per game. In its last two contests, the Lopes outrebounded Seattle U and Utah Valley 81-54 and 32-15 in offensive rebounds. Senior forward Olivia Lane is the team's leading rebounder with 142 on the season and 30 in her last four games.
Due in part to its rebounding numbers, GCU has tallied 28 second-chance points in its last two games and has limited opposing offenses to six second-chance points.
GCU owns the conference's best field goal percentage (44.0%) and field goal percentage defense (36.6)%. The Lopes have shot 40% or higher in 15 games (14-1 record) and have held opponents to 40% or less in 15 contests (13-2 record).
Head coach Molly Miller ranks fourth among active coaches in winning % (.844) with eight-plus seasons of coaching. She trails only Geno Auriemma (UConn), Kim Caldwell (Marshall) and Kim Mulkey (LSU)
The Lopes are 48-11 at Global Credit Union Arena since Miller took the helm in 2020. GCU has won at least 12 games at home in each of her three seasons in Phoenix, including a season-high 13 last year. GCU's win over UT Arlington on Jan. 27 marked the fifth consecutive season with double-digit wins at home.

SCOUTING REPORT

Southern Utah enters Saturday 6-15 overall and 4-8 in WAC play. It split its last four games, most recently defeating Abilene Christian at home and UT Rio Grande Valley on the road.
The Thunderbirds rank second in the WAC behind GCU in field goal percentage, shooting 42.2% from the floor.
Southern Utah averages 15.1 turnovers per game, second lowest in the conference.
It is fourth in the WAC in rebounds per game (37), and is fourth in offensive rebounds per contest, averaging just shy of 12 offensive boards.
Daylani Ballena is first in the WAC in field goal attempts (268). Ballena's 15 points per game ranks third among WAC players.

LAST TIME THEY MET

GCU won the first meeting of the season, 78-60, in Phoenix on Jan. 4.
The Erikstrup twins, Laura and Sydney, combined for 40 points, 10 rebounds, and three 3-pointers as the Lopes shot 48% from the floor.
The Lopes limited the Thunderbirds to 4-of-20 shooting from 3-point range and 39% overall from the field.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Lopes stay on the road and play Utah Tech on Thursday night in St. George, Utah.
GCU heads to Riverside, California, following the Utah Tech game for a top-two WAC standings matchup against California Baptist.