Pair of double-doubles guide Lopes to Quarterfinals

Saturday, March 7

Las Vegas, Nev.

8:30 p.m. MST

Grand Canyon

13-18,11-9Mountain West

Utah State

6-24,2-18Mountain West

Utah St.

Grand Canyon

Photo by: David Kadlubowski

3/8/2026 12:38:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

LaMendola, Moo combine for 27 points, 25 rebounds

By: Nick Macdonald

LAS VEGAS – Trailing after the first quarter and at the half, Grand Canyon turned up the offensive dial to full blast, outscoring No. 11 seed Utah State 44-26 in the second half to win 75-58 at Thomas and Mack Center in the Mountain West Championship First Round.

The Lopes saw production from nearly everyone who stepped onto the court, totaling a season best six players in double figures, led by junior guard and All-Mountain West honoree Julianna LaMendola, who poured in 15 points and 13 rebounds after going scoreless in the first half.

"I thought we had a little bit of a rocky start, but the way we competed in that second half, momentum started to shift once we were down 13 in that second quarter" said head coach Winston Gandy. "We had six players in double figures, which doesn't happen a lot for us, but in March it doesn't have to be pretty, it just have to be enough to get a W."

Norah Moo, who was one of three freshmen to start the first Mountain West postseason game in program history, had a 12-point, 12 rebound double-double of her own, joining LaMendola as the first pair of Lopes' teammates to have a double-double in the same game since Dec. 27, 2024.

"I just went out there and played my game. I'm glad I could help my team win today in any way possible," said Moo.

No. 6 seed GCU (13-18) and Utah State (6-25) began shot for shot in the first quarter before the Aggies went on a 12-6 run to lead 17-8. Utah State led 19-15 after the first frame as Moo and freshman Ines Zounia combined for 12 of the Lopes' 15 points.

The Aggies found success from outside the arc via Elise Livingston, who had 11 first half points, nine from behind three-point line. USU led by as many as 13 points (33-20), and after only five points in five minutes for GCU's offense, a tide shifted toward the likes of sophomore Chloe Mann and redshirt junior Sifa Ineza.

Mann took a steal coast to coast and drew a foul, making an acrobatic layup for an and-1 attempt. The very next possession was a mirror image of Mann's toughness as Ineza drove the lane, drew contact, and converted the and-1 lay-in.

GCU ended the first half on an 11-0 run and brought the deficit to 33-31 at the break.

The third quarter was all LaMendola, who entered the second half with zero points on 0 of 5 shooting. The Texas native sunk two threes, made 5 of 8 field goals and grabbed six boards to finish the quarter with 13 of GCU's 23 points.

The Lopes found their first lead and ended the quarter up 54-49.

The offensive continued to roll, shooting 70% from the floor including 7 of 11 from the free throw line. Moo continued to crash the boards, adding to GCU's 45 total rebounds and 18 on the offensive glass.
Senior Karley Johnson, who also had zero points in the first half, totaled seven of her 13 in the final quarter to aid GCU to a 21-9 scoring production in the fourth.

"The way our season began, we have faced a lot of adversity, and tonight being down double figures and understanding that there are more ways of impacting the game than just scoring, especially for myself," aid LaMendola. "Everyone focused on that aspect and the right kind of basketball."

GCU shot 46% from the field and 71% from the line, the 10th time over the last 11 games it has shot 70% or better from the charity stripe.

The Lopes have a quick turnaround and face No. 3 seed Colorado State Sunday evening at 7:30 p.m. Live coverage can be found on the Mountain West Network.