As Feast Week wraps up, there were a lot of ups and downs across the WAC for both the men and women. However, the women’s team that is arguably most proud of themselves and their performance thus far is the Lopes of GCU.
Following their win over North Dakota on Friday, the Lopes took on Lindenwood to close out the GCU Thanksgiving Classic.
The Lions of Lindenwood were certainly the underdogs going into this game seeing as this is their first season at the D1 level. However, no one expected GCU to win in such a convincing fashion. At the end of a game that was never really close, the final score was 97-46 in favor of the Lopes.
The game had some unexpected stars and excellent play from GCU all-around as they prepare for their Wednesday home match-up against Arizona State. But for now, let’s dive into their performance against Lindenwood.
Game of Runs
After starting the game down 5-2, the Lopes went on a 17-6 run the rest of the first quarter and never relinquished the lead. GCU finished the first quarter up by 10 with a score of 21-11.
The second quarter saw more of the same for both teams. GCU’s defense completely shut down the Lions’ offense, only allowing 10 points scored in the period. The Lopes were also unbeatable on the offensive side of the floor. GCU shared the love offensively in the second quarter. And Evan Zars was once again putting on a show. Zars scored nine of her 15 points in the second period.
The GCU Lancers?
The second half was a different story for the Lopes when it came to who was leading the charge. Former California Baptist standout Sydney Palma was everywhere for GCU in the second half. Palma finished with 11 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals, showing her ability both offensively and defensively.
If you’ve been following WAC Women’s Hoops for a while, the last name Harper should ring a bell. Former CBU Lancer Caitlyn Harper’s little sister Alaina has been playing solidly as a freshman for the Lopes. By the end of Saturday’s game, Alaina was named the Player of the Game thanks to her excellent performance coming off the bench, specifically in the second half. In just 17 minutes, Harper led all scorers with 18 points and had four rebounds to go along with it. She looks absolutely solid so far in her freshman campaign. Clearly, dominance runs in the Harper blood.
Palma, Harper, and the rest of the Lopes were clearly the better team throughout the 97-46 win.
The Lopes are the lone unbeaten team in the WAC at 5-0. It is the best start in program history. GCU will look to make it 6-0 in the Battle for State 48 Wednesday when Arizona State comes to GCU Arena.
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