Press Article: GCU Falls to No. 23 Oregon in Competitive Matchup
Eugene, Ore. – Grand Canyon University (GCU) faced a tough challenge on Monday night, taking on No. 23 ranked Oregon, marking the Lopes’ first battle against a nationally ranked opponent since 2017 and their inaugural meeting with a Big Ten team. Despite showing resilience in the second half, GCU ultimately lost to Oregon by a score of 70-54 at Matthew Knight Arena, a venue where the Ducks have secured 38 consecutive home wins since the 2021-22 season.
Senior guard Trinity San Antonio highlighted the Lopes’ performance, leading the team with a game-high 18 points, along with six rebounds, five assists, and four steals. She reached a significant career milestone, becoming the third GCU player to score over 1,000 points after executing a key and-1 free throw in the final quarter.
Oregon capitalized on GCU’s early struggles, particularly from beyond the arc, hitting nine three-pointers – the most by any opponent this season. GCU, known for its strong three-point defense, entered the matchup ranked first nationally, allowing just 12.8% shooting from three-point range.
The Lopes started the game strong, leading 4-2, but soon fell behind as the Ducks went on an 18-6 scoring spree. GCU ended the first quarter down 22-10 and was unable to recover after going scoreless for nearly six minutes in the second quarter.
In the second half, GCU attempted a comeback with an early scoring run, yet Oregon’s continued outside shooting thwarted any momentum, usurping the Lopes’ efforts. The loss brought GCU’s season record to 2-2, while Oregon improved to a perfect 5-0. The Lopes will have a break before their next matchup against Liberty on November 27 at 11:30 a.m. in Phoenix, Arizona.
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Photo credit gculopes.com