GCU gets 1st MW win behind LaMendola double-double

Sunday, December 28

San Jose, Calif.

3 p.m. (MST)

Grand Canyon

2-10,1-1Mountain West

San José State

2-11,0-2Mountain West

Grand Canyon

San Jose St.

Photo by: Josh Hauser

12/28/2025 9:06:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Lopes win all 4 quarters at San José State to net 20-point victory

By: Josh Hauser

SAN JOSE, Calif. — In dominant fashion, Grand Canyon recorded the program's first-ever Mountain West Conference victory by defeating San José State 79-59 on Sunday at Provident Credit Union Event Center.

The Lopes controlled the game from start to finish, winning each quarter and pulling away late with a strong second-half performance. GCU led 15-13 after one quarter, extended the margin to 37-31 at halftime and outscored the Spartans 42-28 over the final two quarters to secure the road victory.

"I thought our players did a great job from start to finish," GCU head coach Winston Gandy said. "We battled some adversity, and everybody gave us whatever they had. Some people played in the first half and didn't in the second, not because they didn't play well, but because the game dictated it. They went smaller, so we matched them."

Junior guard Julianna LaMendola led all scorers with a career-high 25 points and all players with a season-high 10 rebounds for her first career double-double and the team's first of the season. She shot 10 for 14 from the field and helped lead a balanced offensive effort that featured 19 assists on 30 made baskets.

"Just having a rough couple of games and now being able to find my flow — maybe not in the first half, but the second — is a credit to Coach and the stuff we've been working on day in and day out," LaMendola said. "It's really just a lot of hard work and trusting the process."

LaMendola emphasized the team-first mentality that powered the Lopes to their first conference win.

"It's a testament to our chemistry and our trust in each other," she said. "It might be me one day, but it's a different person each game. We just find the hot hand and do what we need to do to impact winning. I just want to see a one in the win column for conference."

GCU freshman guard Ines Zounia added a season-high 13 points on 5-of-12 shooting, including three 3-pointers, while Lopes sophomore guard Chloe Mann finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Graduate guard Casey Valenti-Paea provided a spark off the GCU bench with nine points and four assists in 22 minutes, and sophomore power forward Faith Carson added seven points and five rebounds.

"It was great to see Jules get into a rhythm offensively," Gandy said. "I know she's been waiting for that. I loved the poise Chloe played with. Not a huge scoring night, but she rebounded and had five assists. Casey gave us good minutes off the bench. When you look at the plus-minus, there were a lot more pluses than minuses."

Gandy highlighted ball movement as a key factor in the win.

"Nineteen assists on 30 made field goals, that's a big deal," he said. "There were still too many turnovers and fouls, but I'm really excited about the connectivity."

GCU shot 46.9% from the field and 38.5% from 3-point range. The Lopes held San José State to 28.8% shooting, a GCU opponent season low and the lowest clip the Lopes have surrendered since the 2023-24 season. The Lopes held advantages in points in the paint (38-14), assists (19-12) and bench scoring (23-15).

The Spartans were led by Maya Anderson's 16 points, but were limited to 17 made field goals while committing 21 turnovers on the afternoon.

After a series of narrow defeats, including a one-point loss in the conference opener to defending champion UNLV, GCU snapped a losing skid following a 10-day Christmas break and will look to continue the momentum. The Lopes host Colorado State on Wednesday, New Year's Eve, for an 11 a.m. start.