Brown sets rebound record; Lopes win 16th straight

Thursday, January 23

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

18-2,5-0WAC

Southern Utah

3-15,1-4WAC

Southern Utah

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Chris Baumgardner

1/23/2025 9:40:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Brown becomes GCU’s all-time leader with 650 career boards

By: Nick Macdonald

Playing a home game for just the second time in January, Grand Canyon showed why it is one of the toughest teams to beat not only at Global Credit Union Arena, but across the entire nation with a 79-51 victory Thursday evening over Southern Utah.

News and notes

GCU's win moved it to 18-2 overall and 5-0 in WAC play, making it the only conference team without a league loss. It marked 16 consecutive wins for the Lopes, putting them one shy of the program's all-time winning streak record. It is the third-longest active winning streak in the nation.
The Lopes won their 13th home game of the season, tying a Division I-era single-season program record for home wins. GCU has won 13 home games in each of the last three seasons, going 39-8 since the 2022-2023 campaign.
Graduate forward Tiarra Brown again put herself atop the GCU record books with her 650th career rebound, becoming the Lopes' all-time rebounding leader. That number surpassed Channa Speckman's mark of 649 set between 1992-1996.

"I am just so very proud of this team," Lopes head coach Molly Miller said. "The way we have prepped every game, no matter who we are playing or where we are playing, it matters to this team. I thought we did a great job this week in practice and that really showed out there on the court tonight."

After 32 points in the first half at Abilene Christian and 20 first-half points at Tarleton State, GCU's first-half offense broke out for 46 points through the first 20 minutes Thursday night with 25 in the first quarter. With the Lopes opening the game on an 11-2 run, GCU senior guard Trinity San Antonio exploded for 15 of her 21 points in the first quarter, going 6 of 8 from the floor with two 3-pointers.

Southern Utah (3-15, 1-4 WAC) climbed back to within three points (13-10) with both sides shooting the ball exceptionally well. The Thunderbirds shot 50% from the field to GCU's 76% after one quarter.

GCU's 25-20 lead turned into a double-digit advantage four minutes into the second quarter. Over the final 2:39 of first-half play, the Lopes outscored Southern Utah 11-0 to lead 46-28 at intermission.

It was the fourth time the Lopes defense held a WAC opponent to 30 points or fewer in the first half. Southern Utah shot 23% from the floor and 20% from 3-point range in the second quarter. The second-quarter defense saw the Lopes force seven turnovers, tally four steals, and limit second-chance points to just two as Brown showcased her offensive abilities with 10 points in the quarter.

GCU led by as many as 21 in the third quarter as nine Lopes found the scoring column throughout the game. GCU totaled 21 assists, its 11th game this season with 20 or more assists.

The Lopes outscored Southern Utah 21-12 over the final 10 minutes, with graduate guard Anna Ostlie knocking down two of the team's eight 3-pointers. After not scoring from beyond the arc last game, GCU went 8 of 14 from deep despite guard Alyssa Durazo-Frescas sitting out for health reason. Five Lopes scored from distance.

"We've told nobody 'no' on this team," Miller said. "Each and every one has the green light and opportunity to shoot when open or to pass up a good shot for a great shot. When you have Alyssa out, you have people like Anna stepping up and making 3s, Sydney (Erikstrup) doing a good job in scoring. It's a team effort, and it takes everyone. When one is down, players step up."

Brown finished the night with 17 points, five rebounds, five assists, one block and two steals, while San Antonio led all scorers with 21 points while adding four rebounds and three assists. Graduate forward Kristyna Jeskeova continues to increase her stat lines as the season progresses, scoring six points with five rebounds and a game-high five steals.

"It feels good to know I have the record, but to be honest, I didn't even know about this one," Brown said. "Tonight felt familiar with our start in the first half. We had our ups and downs, but getting back to the consistency that we play is key for us."

GCU will look to tie the program's best win streak mark Saturday at home versus Utah Tech. It is the first time the two teams will meet this season, with Saturday's game also hosting Girl Scout Cookie Tipoff.

Fans who attend the game and buy two boxes of Girl Scout Cookies will receive a free State Forty-Eight shirt, while supplies last. Pregame festivities will commence outside Global Credit Union Arena.