Lopes finish 2-game homestand vs. Aggies

Saturday, February 21

Phoenix, Ariz.

12 p.m. (MST)

Grand Canyon

Utah State

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2/20/2026 11:19:00 AM | Women's Basketball

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GCU aims to rebound after narrow loss Wednesday

By: Nick Macdonald

Grand Canyon returns to action Saturday afternoon at Global Credit Union Arena, hosting Utah State in a noon contest on Arizona's Family Sports and Mountain West Network. The Lopes defeated the Aggies 86-66 in the first meeting three weeks ago.

AT A GLANCE

GCU aims to avenge its two-point home defeat to New Mexico on Wednesday as it battles for seeding in the Mountain West Championship. The Lopes are tied for sixth with Fresno State at 8-8 and lead eighth-place Air Force by two games.
Lopes junior Julianna LaMendola notched her fourth 20-point game of the season Wednesday vs. Utah State. She has three games of 20 points or more in MW play, including two over her last three games. LaMendola is tied for sixth in points per game (13.6) and sixth in rebounds per game (6.8) against MW competition.
Graduate guard Casey Valenti-Paea has made at least one 3-pointer in five of her last six games and is coming off an 18-point performance with four made 3s vs. New Mexico. In games Valenti-Paea scores double digits this season, she has made eight 3s and tallied 34 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.
Sophomore guard Chloe Mann dished out a career-best eight assists vs. New Mexico and is fifth in the Mountain West in assists per game (3.2). She has seven games with at least five assists this season.
GCU extended its streak of six games with 70% or better free throw shooting. The Lopes are second in the conference and 43rd nationally at 76.1%.
The Lopes have made 24 3-pointers over their last three games.

THIS GAME

GCU looks to end a three-game skid Saturday as it hosts Utah State, a team it defeated 86-66 on Jan. 28 in Logan.
The Lopes are coming off a heartbreaking 70-68 loss Wednesday vs. New Mexico. It marked GCU's fifth loss by one or two points this season. The Lopes have won two of their last three home games.
GCU is tied for sixth in the MW standings. Its four remaining regular-season games are against teams that defeated this season.

SCOUTING UTAH STATE

Utah State enters Phoenix at 6-19 and 2-14 in Mountain West play.
The Aggies are seeking their first win since Dec. 31 vs. San José State and have dropped 13 straight.
Aaliyah Gayles leads the squad in scoring at 11.8 points per game. She has also dished out 36 assists and pocketed 29 steals.
Sophie Sene is averaging 6.3 boards per game, grabbing 44 of her 126 on offense.
The Aggies average 7.4 steals per game, fifth most in the Mountain West. They also shoot 72.9% from the free throw line, fifth best in the conference, putting two top-five free throw shooting teams together Saturday.
GCU's last two opponents are two teams who attempt a lot of 3-point shots. New Mexico leads the conference with 25.8 attempts from deep, while Utah State is fourth with 22.7 3-pointers attempts per game.
GCU is 2-0 all-time against the Aggies, with both wins coming over the last two seasons. The Lopes defeated Utah State 75-62 in December 2024 in the teams' first-ever meeting.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Three regular-season games remain following Saturday's contest, beginning Wednesday at Fresno State.
GCU returns home and hosts San José State on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 1 p.m. for Senior Day in the last regular-season home contest of 2025-26.