{"id":34576,"date":"2026-01-11T00:38:48","date_gmt":"2026-01-11T04:38:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/fresno-state-basketball-falls-to-grand-canyon-71-64-in-womens-mw-contest\/"},"modified":"2026-01-11T00:39:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-11T04:39:10","slug":"43027-fresno-state-basketball-falls-to-grand-canyon-71-64-in-women-s-mw-contest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/43027-fresno-state-basketball-falls-to-grand-canyon-71-64-in-women-s-mw-contest\/","title":{"rendered":"Fresno State basketball falls to Grand Canyon 71-64 in Women’s MW contest"},"content":{"rendered":"

Grand Canyon<\/b> dominated the final quarter to outlast Fresno State<\/b> in a crucial Mountain West<\/b> clash. The Lopes<\/b> pulled away with a stunning 20-11<\/b> fourth-quarter performance to secure a 71-64 victory<\/b> on January 10<\/b> at home in Phoenix<\/b>. This breakthrough win moved Fresno State basketball<\/b> into playoff contention territory in conference play.<\/p>\n

\n

\ud83d\udd25 Quick Facts<\/h3>\n
    \n
  • Final Score<\/b>: Grand Canyon 71<\/b>, Fresno State 64<\/b> on January 10, 2026<\/li>\n
  • Game Location<\/b>: Global Credit Union Arena<\/b> in Phoenix<\/b>, attended by 685 fans<\/li>\n
  • Fourth Quarter Dominance<\/b>: GCU<\/b> shot 54 percent from field, held Bulldogs<\/b> to just 29 percent<\/li>\n
  • Three-Point Mastery<\/b>: Grand Canyon<\/b> made 10 three-pointers<\/b> on 55.6 percent shooting<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n

    Lopes Unleash Connection for Clutch Victory<\/h2>\n

    Grand Canyon<\/b> executed brilliantly down the stretch with perfect ball movement. Ale’jah Douglas<\/b> opened the fourth quarter with a crucial three-pointer<\/b> to spark the comeback. She finished with 10 points<\/b> and defensive intensity, recording multiple steals. Anisa Jeffries<\/b> led GCU<\/b> with 14 points<\/b>, showcasing her spin moves in the paint during crunch time.<\/p>\n

    Coach Winston Gandy<\/b> emphasized the importance of connectivity in the locker room. According to the official game recap, when Grand Canyon<\/b> stays connected on both offense and defense, they consistently thrive. Julianna LaMendola<\/b> chipped in 11 points and 6 rebounds<\/b> in just 22 minutes<\/b> off the bench.<\/p>\n

    Bulldogs Battle Back but Fall Short in Final Minutes<\/h2>\n

    Fresno State<\/b> began strong with Danae Powell<\/b> recording 17 points<\/b>, her third consecutive game with 15 or more points<\/b>. Jaisa Gamble<\/b> added 14 points<\/b> and Avery Watkins<\/b> contributed 10 points<\/b> from the floor. The Bulldogs<\/b> commanded the paint, out-rebounding GCU 39-26<\/b> and winning the points-in-paint battle decisively.<\/p>\n

    However, Fresno State<\/b> struggled from three-point range, finishing with zero made three-pointers<\/b> for the first time since March 2017<\/b>. This marked the first game without a made three since before the current roster took over.<\/p>\n

    Key Statistics and Performance Comparison<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Statistic<\/td>\nGrand Canyon<\/td>\nFresno State<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Field Goal Percentage<\/td>\n48.1 percent<\/td>\n41.0 percent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Three-Point Percentage<\/td>\n55.6 percent<\/td>\n0.0 percent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Rebounds<\/td>\n26 total<\/td>\n39 total<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Turnovers<\/td>\n22 total<\/td>\n23 total<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

    \n“When we’re connected on offense and defense, we’re pretty good. I was really happy with finding ways to win.”\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    \u2014 Winston Gandy<\/b>, Grand Canyon Women’s Basketball Head Coach<\/p>\n

    Defensive Masterclass Shifts Momentum in Final Quarter<\/h2>\n

    Grand Canyon<\/b> made key defensive adjustments after halftime, holding Fresno State<\/b> to just 12 points<\/b> in the third quarter. The Lopes<\/b> forced impressive ball movement, recording 18 assists<\/b>, one shy of their season high. Karley Johnson<\/b> registered a plus-19 rating in 24 minutes<\/b> with perfect charge-taking defense.<\/p>\n

    Anisa Jeffries<\/b> and Chloe Mann<\/b> each logged 34 minutes<\/b> of defensive pressure. The Lopes<\/b> recorded 8 steals<\/b> compared to Fresno State’s 7<\/b>. This defensive intensity allowed Grand Canyon<\/b> to manufacture open scoring opportunities.<\/p>\n

    What Does This Victory Mean for Mountain West Conference Standings?<\/h2>\n

    Grand Canyon<\/b> improved to 4-12<\/b> overall and 3-3<\/b> in Mountain West<\/b> play, moving into fifth place tied with Boise State<\/b> and Nevada<\/b>. The victory comes after a challenging 1-9<\/b> stretch against a punishing nonconference schedule. Fresno State<\/b> dropped to 8-9<\/b> overall and 2-4<\/b> in conference, needing consecutive wins to climb the standings.<\/p>\n

    Coach Gandy<\/b> mentioned his squad’s experience from preseason opponents prepared them for close games. The Lopes<\/b> are now 4-1<\/b> when scoring more than 70 points<\/b> this season, establishing that as a magical benchmark for winning. Grand Canyon<\/b> hosts Nevada<\/b> next on January 14<\/b> in a critical fifth-place conference matchup.<\/p>\n