Lopes extend win streak to 12 in WAC opener

Saturday, January 4

Cedar City, Utah

2 p.m.

Grand Canyon

14-2,1-0WAC

Southern Utah

2-12,0-1WAC

Grand Canyon

Southern Utah

1/4/2025 4:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Durazo-Frescas' 21 points, Brown's 8 steals lead win with Jeskeova debut

By: Nick Macdonald

CEDAR CITY, Utah — After seven straight home games in December, Grand Canyon opened WAC play and the new year on the road without missing a beat Saturday, keeping its winning streak alive at 12 games, recording four double-digit scorers and knocking down eight second-half 3-pointers to defeat Southern Utah 75-57.

GCU's 12-game winning streak is tied for the seventh-longest active streak in the nation. The Lopes (14-2, 1-0 WAC) are one of 11 teams to win 14 games this season.

News and notes

Senior guard Alyssa Durazo-Frescas entered the game as the nation's leader in 3-pointers made total and per game. After not scoring in the first half, Durazo-Frescas poured in 21 points on six made 3s to move her nation-leading season total to 66 on 48.2% accuracy.
Graduate forward Tiarra Brown is three points shy of the program's Division I-era career scoring record. Despite a single-digit point total for only the third time this season, Brown made her impact on the defensive end with nine rebounds, eight steals, five assists and three blocks. The steal count was one shy of a GCU record.
Senior guard Kristyna Jeskeova made her GCU debut in the second quarter, scoring two points and grabbing one rebound with a steal in seven minutes of play. Coming off two separate ACL rehabilitation stints, Jeskeova last appeared in a game for Long Beach State on Feb. 9, 2023, and was met with enthusiastic applause from the staff and bench in Cedar City.

The way GCU started was a testament to how conference games differ from nonconference. A team that entered 34th in the nation in scoring, the Lopes' high-flying offense had seven points through five minutes and 15 at the end of the first quarter to lead by one over Southern Utah (2-12, 0-1 WAC). The inside presence from the WAC's leader in field goal percentage, graduate forwards Laura Erikstrup and Nneka Obiazor, provided 11 of the team's first-quarter points.

The Lopes defense clamped down on the Thunderbirds in the second quarter, holding them to eight points while not giving Southern Utah a free throw opportunity through 20 minutes.

GCU nearly scored its first-half point total in the third quarter as the offense came alive after the halftime talk. The Lopes shot 50% from the floor, and Durazo-Frescas made three 3-pointers as the lead widened to 12 after three quarters.

The fourth quarter was nearly identical to the third in terms of scoring for GCU. Durazo-Frescas knocked down three from long range and seven Lopes added a point to the fourth-quarter box score, including Jeskeova's first two points off free throws.

The elements the Lopes have done so well this season again shined in the first conference win, including 20 steals, 16 assists and eight 3-pointers. The steal count was one off the season high, with the team entering Cedar City in the nation's top 25 for assists and steals per game.

The Lopes return home for a Thursday evening showdown versus Utah Valley. Tipoff is 6 p.m. with live coverage on Fox10 Xtra and ESPN+.