Lockdown defense aids nation-best 26th straight win

Thursday, March 6

St. George, Utah

7 p.m. (MST)

Grand Canyon

28-2,15-0WAC

Utah Tech

5-23,1-14WAC

Grand Canyon

Utah Tech

3/6/2025 9:28:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

9 Lopes score as Brown leads way with 14 points, 11 rebounds

By: Nick Macdonald

ST. GEORGE, Utah – Grand Canyon keeps setting season highs while extending its nation-best winning streak.

GCU defeated Utah Tech 74-42 on Thursday night at Burns Arena to move to 28-2 overall and 15-0 in WAC play. The victory keeps hold of its winning streak that leads all Division I teams at 26 consecutive wins.

GCU's defense also set a season high, holding Utah Tech (5-23, 1-14 WAC) to 42 points, the fewest of its Division I opponents this season.

News and Notes

Nine Lopes found the scoring column, led by senior guard Alyssa Durazo-Frescas and graduate forward Tiarra Brown with 14 points each. Brown recorded a double-double, adding 11 rebounds, three blocks and two steals.
Durazo-Frescas knocked down three 3-pointers, moving her total to 108 on the season. She is now six shy of tying Becky Hammon's WAC single-season record for 3-pointers. The mark was set during the 1998-99 season at Colorado State.
Graduate forward Laura Erikstrup and senior guard Trinity San Antonio each added 12 points to put four Lopes in double figures. Graduate forward Kristyna Jeskeova tallied eight points, seven rebounds and three steals off the bench.
The defense forced 27 turnovers, tied for its third most this season. In two games against Utah Tech, GCU has forced 54 turnovers. As the regular-season champion, GCU will play either Utah Tech or Seattle U in the first round of the WAC Tournament on Wednesday in Las Vegas.

The Lopes outscored Utah Tech 15-10 in the first quarter, with both teams beginning slowly on the offensive ends. GCU shot 37% for the first quarter, while limiting the Trailblazers to 20% from the floor. It was the second half that boosted the Lopes into a double-digit lead, with San Antonio, Durazo-Frescas and Brown all reaching double-digit scoring with three made 3s in the quarter.

Brown was on double-double watch early into the second quarter, finishing the half with 10 points, eight rebounds, two steals and two blocks. GCU forced 17 first-half turnovers, scoring 18 of its points off them with eight steals.

The defense limited Utah Tech to six third-quarter points and 20% from the field again. Despite scoring a game-low 14 points, the Lopes forced six more turnovers to bring Utah Tech's three-quarter total to 23. GCU won the scoring battle, 34-20, in the second half.

GCU returns home for its regular-season finale on Saturday vs. Abilene Christian for Senior Day. Tipof is at 2 p.m. with the Lopes' nine seniors being honored postgame.