Lakers fall to host team at Grand Canyon Tournament
PHOENIX, Ariz. - Grand Canyon opened the second half of Friday's Thanksgiving Classic first-round game with an 18-0 run and went on to beat the Lake Superior State women's basketball team, 75-57.
Grand Canyon (5-1) led 31-27 at halftime and extended the margin to 49-27 with 12:49 remaining in the second half. Samantha Murphy totaled 17 points, 10 rebounds and four assists to lead GCU. Teammate Maylinn Smith finished with 14 points and five rebounds.
Maria Blazejewski totaled 17 points and eight rebounds for LSSU (3-2). Ronlea Peterson added 12 points and six rebounds, and Cassy Schemberger contributed nine points and nine rebounds.
LSSU was limited to 17 field goals and shot 30 percent from the field. The Lakers made 4-of-15 three-point attempts and 19-of-23 free throws.
Grand Canyon was 26-of-66 from the field for 39 percent, including 2-of-12 from three-point range. GCU made 21-of-27 free throws and out-rebounded LSSU, 45-43. The Antelopes received honorable mention in this week's ESPN/USA Today Top 25 Poll. During the pre-season, they played Arizona and lost by seven points to UNLV.
The Lakers play ninth-ranked Washburn on Saturday at noon MT.
