Road schedule ends with SFA rallying to beat GCU

Saturday, March 2

Nacogdoches, Texas

1 p.m. MST

Grand Canyon

24-6,16-3WAC

Stephen F. Austin

19-10,13-5WAC

Grand Canyon

SFA

3/2/2024 4:02:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Brown scores 23; Lopes remain in WAC title contention at 16-3

By: Nick Macdonald

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – In its final regular-season road game of the season, Grand Canyon fell 85-77 to Stephen F. Austin in a tight, back-and-forth contest Saturday afternoon.

For the first time this season, GCU (24-6, 16-3 WAC) is looking up in the WAC standings with California Baptist leading the Lopes by a half game after the Lancers defeated UT Rio Grande Valley on Saturday. GCU finished the regular season at 11-3 in road games, tying it for the most road wins in program history.

The Lopes jumped out to an explosive start on offense, shooting 55% in the first quarter and 68% in the second quarter to total a 61% mark for the half. A 6-0 run began the scoring trend for GCU early in the game and was followed by a 10-3 run over the final four minutes of the first quarter.

The Lopes' lead extended to as many as 15 points (38-23) in the second quarter, and they ended the half with a 47-36 advantage. The 47 first-half points nearly matched the scoring output from the previous matchup against the Ladyjacks (54).

Stephen F. Austin (19-10, 13-5 WAC) came out of the second-half gates scoring six points in 34 seconds and closed the Lopes' lead to 47-45 a minute later, scoring 12 straight points extending to the end of the first half. A battle of trading baskets ensued, with the Ladyjacks eventually tying the game at 56-56 and taking its first lead since the first quarter at 62-60. Stephen F. Austin scored 29 third-quarter points, the most points of any quarter by an opponent this season.

Despite the lead change, GCU answered throughout the fourth quarter, eventually taking a 74-73 lead with three minutes to play. Stephen F. Austin's free throw shooting down the stretch proved to be a difference maker, going 9 of 10 for the fourth quarter including 7 of 7 over the final three minutes. GCU's chances were there over the final 90 seconds, but a missed 3-pointer and a costly loose-ball turnover put the Lopes out of reach.

Senior forward Tiarra Brown scored a team-high 23 points, her second 20-point performance in the last three games. Junior guard Naudia Evans had 10 points, five rebounds, three assists and five steals while senior power forward Olivia Lane scored 10 points and grabbed six rebounds, all on the offensive glass.

The Lopes finished the game shooting 48% from the floor, only the second time this season that they have lost a contest when shooting above 40%. The 85 points allowed were the most for GCU this season, with only three previous teams eclipsing 70 prior to Saturday.

GCU has a week to prepare for the regular-season finale against first-place California Baptist (24-3, 16-2 WAC) at home Saturday. The Lopes' seniors will be honored prior to the 2 p.m. game for Senior Day at Global Credit Union Arena.