FRESNO, Calif. \u2013 Once the first basket fell through the hoop for Grand Canyon, the lead never swayed the other way as the Lopes defeated Fresno State 57-42 at Smart Mart Center on Wednesday evening.<\/p>\n
News and notes<\/p>\n
On a night when both teams shot less than 40% from the floor, the Lopes’ first quarter was the momentum starter with 19 points and a 58% field goal percentage. All eight Lopes who scored in the victory got on the board in the first quarter, with the other side of the ball holding Fresno State (14-15, 8-10 MW) to just 3 of 15 from the floor.<\/p>\n The defense had arguably its best quarter of the night in the second, holding the Bulldogs to shoot 2 for 14 (14.3%), including 0 of 4 from 3-point range, and five total points. GCU led 32-17 at the half.<\/p>\n The lead was cut to 36-30 by a Fresno State 13-4 run to open the third. But bigtime playmaking is second nature to Mann, who sank\u00a0two free throws and hit a corner pocket 3 to push the lead back to 41-32.<\/p>\n Again, the Bulldogs made a run at the lead, getting within two points with 8:15 play. In a time where the offense needed to click and the defense needed to tighten, the Lopes accomplished both sides of the coin.<\/p>\n Fresno State scored just two points over the final eight minutes, while GCU notched 15 more by the hands of four Lopes.<\/p>\n GCU finished the final frame 6 of 8 from the line, totaling a 70% clip to hit that number or better for\u00a0the 23rd time this season. GCU entered the night as the conference’s best free throw shooting team.<\/p>\n The defense held Fresno State to a season opponent low of 42 points, breaking the previous high from Saturday’s game vs. Utah State by one point. The 85 points allowed in back-to-back games is a season low for consecutive games.<\/p>\n The Lopes return home for one final regular-season contest at Global Credit Union Arena on Saturday against\u00a0San Jos\u00e9 State. GCU will honor its five senior players and two senior managers prior to tipoff at 12:55 p.m.
\n\tSophomore Chloe Mann<\/a> led GCU with 15 points, going 6 of 8 from the free throw line. The point guard added three assists, four rebounds\u00a0and two blocks, scoring\u00a010 of her 15 points in the second half.
\n\tSenior forward Anisa Jeffries<\/a> claimed the Lopes’ fourth double-double of the season, scoring 10 points while grabbing 10 rebounds. She also added three steals, improving her top-six ranking for steals per game in the Mountain West.
\n\tGCU grabbed 44 rebounds, its third most in a game this season.
\n\tWith the victory, the Lopes have claimed no lower than the No. 6 seed in the Mountain West Championship. GCU could claim the No. 5 seed with two wins and two New Mexico losses, with the tiebreaker being the Lopes’ head-to-head victory over top seeded San Diego State.
<\/p>\n
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