Lopes clinch share of WAC regular-season title

Saturday, February 22

Riverside, Calif.

2 p.m. (MST)

Grand Canyon

25-2,12-0WAC

California Baptist

10-16,7-5WAC

Grand Canyon

California Baptist

2/22/2025 5:08:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

GCU claims 1st conference title in program history with 23rd consecutive win

By: Nick Macdonald

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – A historic season was bound to have a historic win.

That win finally came Saturday afternoon.

Grand Canyon's 74-56 victory Saturday at California Baptist extended the nation's longest active winning streak to 23 games and clinched a share of the WAC regular-season title for the first time in GCU history.

News and notes

The victory moved the Lopes to 25-2 overall and 12-0 in WAC play. A UT Arlington loss at Tarleton State on Saturday paved the way for GCU clinch a share of the regular-season title with four conference games remaining. A Thursday win at UT Arlington would clinch the title outright.
The 25th win set a new Division I-era program record, surpassing last year's mark of 24. The Lopes are four wins away from tying the all-time single season wins counter of 29 set in 2010-11.
GCU senior guard Trinity San Antonio scored 20 points for the third consecutive game. She dished out six assists and pocketed seven steals in her second game back to Riverside, California, since transferring from CBU to GCU in the summer of 2023.
Lopes senior guard Alyssa Durazo-Frescas knocked down seven 3-pointers for a game-high 21 points. marking her sixth game with six or more made 3s.

"Before the game, we had not talked about that possibility of a regular-season championship as a group," GCU head coach Molly Miller said. "So the last dead ball I wanted to make it a point to take Tiarra (Brown) out, give her the news and congratulate her on a goal we've had since she has been here. I'm incredibly proud of not only the hard work of this team but the daily approach they have had throughout the process."

Entering Riverside 1-4 in their last five games at Fowler Events Center, the Lopes arguably had its best first quarter of the season, pouring in 27 points with four 3s and a 57% clip from the field. Durazo-Frescas knocked down a pair of 3s in back-to-back possessions and totaled three through the first 10 minutes.

San Antonio and Brown combed for 12 points – six apiece – as the Lopes took control with a 27-14 lead after one quarter.

The defense kicked into even more of a lockdown presence in the second quarter, allowing only seven points and 1-of-8 shooting from 3-point range. Up 30-21 with 5:58 left in the half, the Lopes orchestrated a 12-0 run to close the half and entered the halftime locker room with a 21-point lead.

GCU led by as many as 26 in the third quarter despite only shooting 35% from the floor. California Baptist (10-16, 7-5 WAC) pulled within 12 points early in the fourth, but Durazo-Frescas sank two 3s and San Antonio, the reigning WAC Player of the Week, scored five points to thwart a CBU late-game run.

"Our strength coach Zach (Farrel) said, 'Each of us needs all of us,' and there couldn't be a more fitting statement for this team," Miller said. "I'm grateful to (GCU Vice President of Athletics) Jamie Boggs and the administration for believing our staff could bring home championships. Our recruits choose the school as a whole, and we have brought in some amazing talent because our culture, mission and support from Lope nNtion. I hope everyone can enjoy and share in this piece of history."

The Lancers struggled from the free throw line, going 4 of 13 to GCU's 7-of-9 clip. The Lopes shot 50% from the field for its sixth consecutive game of shooting 50% or higher. GCU won the turnover battle, forcing 24 turnovers to 12 given up.

With four regular-season games left, GCU splits between the road and home next week, playing UT Arlington on the road Thursday before returning home for a 2 p.m. showdown versus Seattle U on March 1.