Win streak hits 15 with 2nd-half rally at Tarleton State

Saturday, January 18

Stephenville, Texas

6 p.m. (MST)

Grand Canyon

17-2,4-0WAC

Tarleton State

11-9,2-3WAC

Grand Canyon

Tarleton St.

Win streak hits 15 with 2nd-half rally at Tarleton State

1/18/2025 9:16:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Erikstrup records 20 points, 5 boards as teams combine for 51 free throws

By: Nick Macdonald

STEPHENVILLE, Texas – For the second straight game, the Lopes had an uphill battle at the halftime buzzer. And for the second straight game, the Lopes orchestrated a second-half comeback with lockdown, fourth-quarter defense and an array of offensive contributors to defeat Tarleton State 57-53 at Wisdom Gymnasium on Saturday evening.

News and notes

The win improved GCU to 17-2 on the season and 4-0 in WAC play and extended its winning streak to 15 games, the fourth-longest active winning streak in the nation.
Lopes forward Laura Erikstrup scored a game-high 20 points and added five rebounds with a 10-of-14 clips rom the free throw line. The graduate's 20-point effort was her sixth 20-plus point performance this season and her third in the last six games.
GCU held Tarleton State to 1-of-12 shooting from the field in the fourth quarter, including 0 of 7 from 3-point range. Over their last two games, the Lopes have held opponents to 5 of 23 from the floor and 0 of 11 from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter.

With one of the best offensive teams in the country in terms of field goal percentage and assists per game, GCU (17-2, 4-0 WAC) played to the contrary of its normal realm early in the game. The Lopes went 4 of 15 from the field in the first quarter and 3 of 16 in the second quarter for a 20-point first half. Tarleton State (11-9, 2-3 WAC) had trouble breaking through thanks to GCU's defensive stands, but the Texans eventually led by five points on two occasions as Lopes fouls mounted.

GCU graduate guard Anna Ostlie, starting for injured national 3-point leader Alyssa Durazo-Frescas, picked up two quick fouls. Scoring leaders Trinity San Antonio and Erikstrup each tallied one as well in the first quarter. It was Erikstrup's layup at the first-quarter buzzer that kept Tarleton State's lead to 14-12.

Despite Durazo-Frescas being out, the Lopes shot often from distance in the second quarter with eight attempts. They were unable to sink one as the Texans converted a 3-pointer with 29 seconds remaining in the half for their largest lead at 27-20.

The pace of play was slow for the Lopes offense to begin the second half. Tarleton State stretched the lead to 31-20 and held an eight-point lead with 5:36 to go in the third quarter.

But like GCU's comeback win Thursday night at Abilene Christian, the fire was fueled from the defense Saturday night. A steal from senior guard Callie Cooper, who led all players with five steals, led to two free throws from Erikstrup and a fiery bench as Cooper lifted the energy with her on-ball presence.

Erikstrup went 6 of 6 from the free throw line in the third quarter and San Antonio, who was held quiet in the first half, had eight third-quarter points to pull GCU within four points of Tarleton State with a quarter to play.

As the game went on, the louder the Lopes became. Graduate forward Kristyna Jeskeova, playing her most minutes (23) in a Lopes uniform, had a block, rebound and steal in a minute-and-a-half stretch to limit any offensive chances by the Texans. GCU graduate forward Tiarra Brown, playing 38 minutes, drove from right to left near the baseline and used her agility to go up and under for a layup, creating contact and forcing an and-one to give the Lopes their first the lead with 4:52 to play.

Tarleton State got within two off a pair of free throws with 1:49 to spare, but the free throw game swayed toward the Lopes as Erikstrup once again came up clutch with four made free throws over the final 29 seconds.

GCU shot 70% from the line on 30 attempts, while Tarleton State shot 60% on 23 attempts. The teams combined for 53 free throws and 47 fouls, with three technical fouls called.

The Lopes return home to play Southern Utah at 6 p.m. Thursday and Utah Tech on Saturday, Jan. 25, for a 2 p.m. Girl Scout Cookie Tipoff.