WAC champs top Lopes in OT of regular-season finale

Saturday, March 9

Phoenix, Ariz.

2 p.m.

Grand Canyon

24-7,16-4WAC

California Baptist

26-3,18-2WAC

OT 1

California Baptist

Grand Canyon

3/9/2024 7:08:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score WAC TOURNAMENT BRACKET

Holland, Fano, Palma, Lane, and Brown honored pre-game for Senior Day

By: Nick Macdonald

Grand Canyon's regular season came to a close Saturday, and after record-breaking achievements that included the most wins in a Division I-era season and second-most home victories, the Lopes fell short in their attempt at their first WAC regular-season title.

In another chapter of the tightknit contests between GCU and California Baptist, the Lopes ultimately took a hard-fought 85-81 loss that included GCU junior guard Naudia Evans' game-tying, banked 3-pointer to force overtime. The past five contests between the schools have been decided by 10 points or fewer with three being six points or fewer.

Like the season's first matchup three weeks prior, Saturday's contest saw plenty of scoring with 166 combined points in front 1,436 fans at Global Credit Union Arena. WAC regular-season champion California Baptist (26-3, 18-2 WAC) became only the second opponent of GCU (24-7, 16-4 WAC) to score more than 80 points in a game this season, while the Lopes' 81 was their fourth-highest total.

The game saw 46 fouls and key players from both sides fouled out, including the Lancers' Chloe Webb and Kinsey Barrington along with GCU standouts Tiarra Brown and Trinity San Antonio.

Brown, who began her GCU career in 2020-21, delivered another performance that will further cement herself as one of the best to ever to do it in a Lope uniform. Brown scored a team-high 19 points, including 15 in the second half on 6-of-7 shooting, with three rebounds and two steals. San Antonio finished just shy of a double-double and not far from a triple-double, tallying 10 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

GCU had five double-digit scorers in Brown, San Antonio, Evans (12), fifth-year point guard Jada Holland (12), and graduate guard Sydney Erikstrup (10). The Lopes shot 38% from the floor and 26% from 3-point range, with five made 3s in the fourth quarter and overtime combined after going 2 of 15 in the first three quarters.

The first quarter alone had 44 points off a plethora of 3s from California Baptist. The Lancers shot 76% in the quarter with five made 3s and led by as many as 12 before a GCU 6-0 run to end the frame cut California Baptist's lead to 25-19.

The scoring was halved in the second quarter with a combined 20 points and California Baptist leading 37-27 at the break.

GCU's rhythm started to click early in the third, bringing the deficit to 46-42 with four minutes to play, but the Lancers orchestrated a run to lead 56-45 after finishing the final four minutes on a 10-4 run.

With momentum shifting back and forth, the Lopes swayed the meter toward their end with a 3-pointer via Sydney Erikstrup at the 4:56 mark. Webb countered with a layup, and Brown responded with two to put the Lancers' lead at 63-58 with 3:45 to play. Webb, the WAC scoring leader, fouled out with just under two minutes to play in regulation, leading to Evans free throws that made it a one-point affair.

Down one with 10 seconds to play, GCU had to foul to give itself one final possession for a potential tie or game-winner. CBU's Nhug Bosch Duran made a pair of free throws and Lopes head coach Molly Miller called a timeout to advance the ball with eight seconds on the clock.

A season-long theme of giving Evans the ball as time expires worked out well in the season opener against Saint Mary's and a road contest at Idaho. With four seconds to spare Saturday, the guard banked in a 3-pointer from the right wing to tie the game at 68-68 and send the contest to overtime.

The Lancers quickly jumped out to a five-point lead and eventually a seven-point advantage in overtime before Evans fought through contact and made a 3 from the left wing that saw the ball hit every piece of the cylinder before falling. CBU's free throw shooting proved vital, making all six attempts over the final 42 seconds to close out the game.

Prior to the game, Holland, Sydney Palma, Shay Fano, Olivia Lane and Brown were honored at center court for Senior Day.

GCU heads into the WAC Tournament in Las Vegas as the No. 2 seed, earning a double bye and two days of extra rest before a 2:30 p.m. Friday semifinal at Orleans Arena.