The Grand Canyon women’s basketball team opened its Mountain West journey with a nail-biting game against UNLV, the reigning conference champions. The Lopes put up a strong fight but ended up losing 61-60 in a game that showed their potential.
In their first nationally televised matchup, GCU was competitive from the start, even leading briefly in the final moments. They outran UNLV in rebounds, claiming a remarkable 40-22 advantage, a feat that hasn’t been seen against the Lady Rebels in two years. The Lopes also dominated bench points, outscoring UNLV 27-5, which highlights the depth of their roster.
Coach Winston Gandy expressed optimism despite the loss. “I’m thrilled. We’re making progress,” he noted, referencing standout performances from players like Jasmyn Lott and Meadow Roland. Freshman Ines Zounia echoed this sentiment, saying, “Every game is closer. We are growing.”
In a tense finish, GCU led by as much as eight points before UNLV pulled ahead late in the game. Senior guard Anisa Jeffries made crucial free throws with less than 20 seconds left, giving GCU a brief one-point lead. Unfortunately, UNLV answered back, scoring the final basket that sealed GCU’s fate.
Despite losing three games this season by just one or two points, the Lopes are showing promise. Recent games have been much closer, with six of their last seven losses coming by single digits. This resilience can be a strong foundation for their future games.
Statistics support their improvement: GCU cut down its turnovers significantly, going from over 20 in previous outings to just 15 in this match. This improvement reflects their growing teamwork and focus.
GCU’s next challenge will come after a long break for the holidays. They resume play against San José State, another team struggling this season. As the Lopes look to build on this narrow defeat, they carry the belief that they can compete with the best.
For more details on their performance, check out the full article on GCU Lopes.
