WAC's top 3 teams square off in Phoenix on Thursday, Saturday

Thursday, February 13

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Tarleton State

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Photo by: Jayden Todd

WAC's top 3 teams square off in Phoenix on Thursday, Saturday

2/12/2025 2:36:00 PM | Women's Basketball

GCU brings 20-game win streak against Tarleton State, UT Arlington

By: Nick Macdonald


Grand Canyon Lopes (22-2, 9-0 WAC)	vs.	Tarleton State Texans (16-9, 7-3 WAC)	UT Arlington Mavericks (14-7, 9-1 WAC)
		Thursday, Feb. 13 6 p.m.	Saturday, Feb. 15 2 p.m.
Game Notes		Watch Live Stats	Watch Live Stats

THIS GAME

Receiving its first AP Top 25 vote in program history Monday, Grand Canyon brings a "RV" tag into a critical tw- game stretch at Global Credit Union Arena.
The Lopes face third-place Tarleton State on Thursday night and second-place UT Arlington on Saturday afternoon. Winners of 20 straight for the second-longest active streak in the nation, the Lopes had their second-closest margin of victory on Jan. 18 at Tarleton State in a 57-53 win.
Saturday marks the first meeting between the Mavericks and Lopes, with UT Arlington sporting a 9-1 conference record and a six-game winning streak entering its Thursday night game at California Baptist.

STORYLINES

The Lopes are 64-12 at Global Credit Union Arena since head coach Molly Miller took the helm in 2020. The Lopes broke the program's single-season record for home wins with their 15th on Saturday vs. California Baptist, surpassing the record of 14 set in 2010-11. Since 2022-23, GCU is 41-8 at home.
GCU's name highlighted the receiving votes section of Monday's AP Top 25 poll, earning a vote for the first time in program history to be among 37 teams in the poll. The Lopes own the nation's second-longest active winning streak in the country behind only No. 1 UCLA (23-0).
A trio of Lopes ranks 1-2-3 in the WAC in steals this season, led by graduate Tiarra Brown with 66 (17th in nation). Brown has 12 games with three or more steals, and has compiled 10 steals over her last four games. Senior guard Trinity San Antonio is second with 61, followed by senior gaurd Callie Cooper in third with 59. The trio have 186 of the team's 310 steals (60%).
Guard Alyssa Durazo-Frescas is one of the nation's top 3-point shooters, ranking first in 3-pointers per game (3.95), third in 3s made (83), and seventh in 3-point percentage (45.9%). The senior has knocked down four or more 3s in 11 games this season. Durazo-Frescas is three 3-pointers shy of tying Samantha Murphy's single-season program record for 3s in a season (86 in 2010-11).
Graduate forward Laura Erikstrup is the team's leading scorer at 15.2 points per game and is 12th in the country in field goal percentage (60.2%). Erikstrup has 20 games with double-digit point totals and has seven double-doubles on the season. Erikstrup leads the WAC in points (365) and is averaging 15.4 points and 8.0 rebounds during WAC play. Her rebounding total ranks fourth in the WAC with 174 on the season.
GCU is one of the most efficient teams from the floor in the nation, ranking fourth in field goal percentage (49.4%). The Lopes have shot 50% or better 15 times this season, with only four games under 40%.
The Lopes' 3-point shooting has been stellar, shooting 40% or better in each of its last five games. After not making a 3 at Tarleton State on Jan. 18, GCU has shot 46% from deep with 48 made 3s.
Head coach Molly Miller ranks fifth among active coaches in winning percentage (.842) with nine or more seasons of coaching. She trails only Geno Auriemma (UConn), Kim Caldwell (Tennessee), Kim Mulkey (LSU) and Jeff Hans (Northern Kentucky).

SCOUTING REPORT

Tarleton State is 16-9 overall and 7-3 in WAC play, winners of five straight with its last loss being against GCU on Jan. 18.
The Texans lead the WAC with a plus-7.0 rebound margin, good for 30th in the nation. Their 25.1 defensive boards per game are third best in the conference.
Tarleton State is second in the WAC behind GCU in scoring defense (57.1 opponent points per game).
The Texans score 22.0 points per game off the bench, third best in the conference.
Arieona Rosborough is first in the WAC in free throws made (98) and second in free throw attempts (138).
UT Arlington enters 14-7 overall and 9-1 in WAC play, dropping only one conference matchup Jan. 16 at Utah Valley. Since that loss, the Mavericks have won six in a row, the second-longest streak in the WAC behind GCU.
The Mavericks head to the line often, ranking 10th in the nation with 22.8 free throw attempts per game. Miraya Perkins is second in the conference with a 79.7 free throw percentage.
UT Arlington protects the key well, averaging a conference-high 4.2 blocks per game. Its defensive rebounds per contest (26.5) is second in the WAC while leading the conference with 39.7 rebounds per game.
The Mavericks have two players with triple doubles on the season, led by Avery Brittingham with two. She is tied for second in the nation in triple doubles.
Koi Love, who won WAC Newcomer of the Week in five of the past six weeks, is averaging 17.0 points per game (second in WAC). She trails only Laura Erikstrup in points this season (358).

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Lopes will have their last bye of the season next Thursday and face California Baptist in Riverside on Saturday, Feb. 22.
GCU has two regular-season home games remaining after this weekend. Both are Saturday afternoon contests – vs. Seattle U at 2 p.m. on March 1 and vs. Abilene Christian at 2 p.m. on March 8.