- Slug: Sports–GCU WBB Preview, 1,200 words.
- 2 photos available.
By Kendall Flynn
Cronkite News
PHOENIX – The Grand Canyon women’s basketball team welcomed seven new players to its roster. Despite the influx of talented newcomers, the Lopes are still working on meshing as a herd, which is something they will need to do quickly as the season officially begins Nov. 4.
GCU is hoping an infusion of fresh talent will give the Lopes a boost as they prepare for their final year in the Western Athletic Conference. Next year, GCU will join the West Coast Conference, meaning if the Lopes hope to capture their first WAC title, it’s now or never.
Looking at the Lopes’ record of 25-8 and 16-8 in the WAC last season, it’s no wonder the team had record-breaking achievements, including the most wins in their Division I-era season and the second-most home victories. However, the Lopes fell short in the first round of the WAC Tournament and went another season without an NCAA Tournament berth.
Senior guard Trinity San Antonio and coach Molly Miller recognize the Lopes need to mesh. Miller said this is her most experienced team since coming to GCU in April 2020. However, the Lopes won’t be able to demonstrate that experience or expertise on the court if they don’t know each other.
“I think that’s the biggest thing. Chemistry,” San Antonio said. “Some of us know each other, some of us know each other prior to playing with each other, and some of us have come here together, so just knowing our tendencies, how we play, when we like to cut to the basket, when we like to get the ball, where we like to get the ball; it kind of all goes hand and hand with playing basketball.”
San Antonio knows the importance of team dynamics more than anyone on the squad. She competed in the Olympics with the Puerto Rico Women’s National Team this summer. She’s bringing her Olympian knowledge to Phoenix this season.
“I think it’s just given me a bit of maturity, that I know what it’s like to play on a big stage,” San Antonio said. “I know what it’s like to play on a smaller stage, and what can I do for the people around me to help kind of live that moment in real life.”
San Antonio is more than an Olympian in the Lopes’ eyes, as she earned 2023-24 All-WAC Defensive Team honors, partly due to her team-high of 99 steals and 2.25 steals per game. She also led on offense with an average of 11.5 points per game and 3.5 assists per game.
San Antonio and graduate student guard/forward Tiarra Brown are among the leaders of the Lopes. Brown has spent four years at GCU, and Miller could not be more ecstatic about her fifth and final year. Miller said her career with the Lopes is an anomaly as she is the only athlete on the team who has spent her entire career at GCU.
Knowing this, Miller is determined to bring a title home for Brown’s final year with the Lopes. After this season, the Lopes will miss Brown’s undeniable talent, especially with her team-high 28 blocks last season and 140 rebounds, the second most for GCU.
“I think that’s a testament to our culture,” Miller said, referring to Brown’s five-year commitment to GCU. “It kind of says some loyalty and maturity on her part, too, because this system fits her like a glove. She just is plug-in-and-play for this system, so I want Tiarra to go out on top.”
After this season, the Lopes will miss Brown’s undeniable talent, which earned her a spot on the 2023-24 All-WAC First Team and Defensive Team. Brown has been awarded an all-WAC spot every year with GCU, varying in honors.
Miller said that she and Brown have been close since her freshman year, and that she told Brown that her last year will be her best one. San Antonio said she and Brown, along with graduate student twins Laura and Sydney Erikstrup, realize that it is crunch time to bring home a title to GCU.
“Last ride. Last go-around,” San Antonio said. “It’s give it all you got or go home, literally.”
While leaning on the upperclassmen, GCU also seeks expertise from UNLV transfers Nneka Obiazor and Alyssa Durazo-Frescas. These two are not only upperclassmen and have experience by age but also know how to win.
Durazo-Frescas and Obiazor helped lead UNLV to a Mountain West championship and an NCAA Tournament berth. Durazo-Frescas led her team with 73 3-pointers last season.
“We’ve got to fill some voids, so a void we filled this year was shooting,” Miller said. “Alyssa’s one of the best shooters in the country, and you watch her out here, she puts on a clinic. Threes are layups for Alyssa.”
Obiazor had a career-high of 71 3-pointers last season, averaging 8.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and shooting 43.1% from the floor.
“She’s a beast,” Laura Erikstrup said. “She is dominant on all three levels of the court. She pounds it inside. She’s a competitor. So I think people can be really excited to watch her play, and her fire, her passion when she plays.”
Miller has been looking for this passion and drive. While they still hope for an NCAA Tournament berth, having players who have reached that goal and won conference championships is essential.
“It’s a winning culture. They know what that looks like, and a lot of it is sacrifice,” Miller said. “You have to come in every day. If you want to be one of one, you have to play like you’re one of one. So our goal ultimately is a WAC championship and to make it to the NCAA Tournament, and we’ve got experience that have done that before on the roster now.”
While only some athletes on the roster have experienced what GCU hopes to achieve this season, the Lopes brought in two other promising players. Senior forward Bridget Mullings and sophomore guard Kaitlyn Elsholz are returning home to Arizona.
Mullings, who went to Greenway High School, could prove helpful from the field for the Lopes as she shot 47.7% last season at Utah State. Elsholz, who went to Sandra Day O’Connor High School, is an accurate asset, too, as she made 22 of 26 free throws last season and was third on the California State University Northridge team for blocks with 14.
With the Arizona homecoming duo, Miller’s recruiting united the Erikstrup twins, forward Laura and guard Sydney for the 2023-24 season. Laura played with GCU last season after three years at UC San Diego, received the 2023-24 WAC Sixth Woman of the Year and led the Lopes with 60% shooting accuracy from the field.
Her sister, Sydney, does not fall far behind. She earned the WAC Newcomer of the Week award last January for her 37 points, six rebounds, six 3-pointers, and perfect 9-of-9 free-throw record.
While the twins have a family bond, the Lopes need that connection on the whole team if they want to win a WAC championship. Before GCU opens its season Nov. 4 against Cal State Bakersfield, the Lopes will face Benedictine Mesa next Wednesday in an exhibition game at the Global Credit Union Arena at 6 p.m.
“I might be biased, but I’m beyond excited for this season,” Laura Erikstrup said. “I think we’re going to put an amazing product on the floor, and I hope that we’re able to accomplish all our goals this year and cut down nets at the end of the season.”
For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org.
