Lopes storm back in 2nd half, extend win streak to 14

Thursday, January 16

Abilene, Texas

5 p.m. (MST)

Grand Canyon

16-2,3-0WAC

Abilene Christian

12-6,1-2WAC

Grand Canyon

Abilene Christian

1/16/2025 9:44:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Erikstrup records 5th double-double, San Antonio drops 25

By: Nick Macdonald

ABILENE, Texas – Upon facing a double-digit halftime deficit for only the second time this season, Grand Canyon needed to hit the reset button for a chance at extending the program's Division I-era record winning streak.

The reset message was received.

GCU recorded a 49-point second half, finished with three double-digit scorers and forced 10 second half turnovers while not allowing Abilene Christian to convert a field goal over the final five minutes of play to win 81-67 at Moody Coliseum on Thursday evening.

News and Notes

The Lopes stormed out of the gates in the second half, outscoring the Wildcats 49-22 with a 24-9 run in the fourth quarter to extend its winning streak to 14 games, the fourth-longest active streak in the nation.
GCU senior guard Trinity San Antonio scored a team-high 25 points and added seven rebounds and five assists. With 16 second-half points, her scoring total was one shy of her career high.
Graduate forward Laura Erikstrup registered her fifth double-double of the season and third over her last five games, tallying 18 points and 13 rebounds. Erikstrup also did most of her damage in the second half, when she played all 20 minutes and tallied 12 points and seven boards.
GCU shot 50% or better for the 11th time this season. It entered Thursday night ranked sixth in the country for field goal percentage.

"Road wins are tough to come by," Lopes head coach Molly Miller said. "I was pleased with our team's resilience through a multitude of dynamics in which we overcame adversity as we faced a very good ACU team. At halftime, we talked about our response, and I am very pleased with the team and how they showed up in the second half. We have been a great second-half team throughout the season, and we continued that tonight, being in a position we haven't been in much this season."

The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair for GCU (16-2, 3-0 WAC) and Abilene Christian (12-6, 1-2 WAC), with each team showcasing its range with two 3-pointers apiece early in the game. The teams rank first and second in the WAC for 3-point attempts per game.

After the Lopes took a 13-12 lead, ACU used an 8-0 run to push GCU into unfamiliar territory near the first-quarter buzzer. San Antonio softened the blow with a 3 as time expired, but GCU trailed by four points after one.

The Wildcats duo of Payton Hull and Bella Earle seemed unstoppable, even against the WAC's best scoring defensive unit. Hull and Earle shot 10 of 14 in the first half, combining for 31 points, and snagged six boards while GCU found itself in foul trouble with four players picking up two before the break.

The Lopes trailed 45-32 after the first half for its second-largest halftime deficit of the season behind its game at nationally ranked Oregon.

With plenty of scorers and chances, the Lopes needed a spark from the defensive end, where Miller teams have ranked among the best in the nation every season since she came to GCU.

The Lopes intensity was two-fold in the second half compared to the first. Bench energy, persistent ball pressure by San Antonio and fellow guard Callie Cooper and defensive rebounds paved the way to a plus-12 scoring difference in the third quarter.

GCU trailed 58-57 entering the fourth quarter at Abilene Christian, which had won 10 of its previous 11 games.

The intensity remained as the minutes counted down, with San Antonio using her speed to go coast to coast for seven fourth-quarter points. When she wasn't scoring, she found one of the best sharpshooters in the nation, guard Alyssa Durazo-Frescas. The senior, the national leader for 3-pointers made per game, sank five 3s on Thursday night with a pair of fourth-quarter 3s that widened the Lopes lead to 12 with less than a minute to play.

The Lopes outscored the Wildcats 24-6 in fastbreak points for the game, due in part to Erikstrup's eight defensive rebounds, which set up San Antonio to feed fellow Lopes for points. San Antonio tallied five assists, putting her season total at a WAC-best 94.

"Our defensive intensity was much greater in the second half, allowing only 22 points, and I was very pleased with how we responded out of the locker room," Miller said. "I was happy with our team's focus and intentionality in keeping this team off the boards. Credit to our players for their resilience and ability to stick together and ability to regroup at halftime and come out with a renewed sense of focus and determination."

The 81 points were GCU's most against a D-I opponent since an 81-point showing against Florida Atlantic on Dec. 19. Despite only four free throw attempts in the first half, GCU made those chances count by going 9 of 12 for the game, including a perfect 4-of-4 clip from Erikstrup.

GCU stays on the road and faces Tarleton State on Saturday at 6 p.m. (Phoenix time). The Texans (11-8, 2-2 WAC) are 8-1 at home this season.