AJ Cephas pulls in double double, but GCU women lose to Seattle U. to conclude regular season

By Scott Mammoser

Seattle University shot 80 percent from long range for most of Saturday’s regular season finale to collect a 70-55 win at Grand Canyon University. The Redhawks, a team that regularly shoots 30 percent in that category, won for only the third time this season (3-26, 3-13 WAC), while the Lopes fell to 7-19 and 5-11, despite AJ Cephas’ 20 points and 10 rebounds.

GCU was locked into the No. 6 seed in the upcoming WAC Tournament, prior to the game, while the Redhawks clinched the No. 7 seed by virtue of its win. The Lopes will meet CSU Bakersfield on March 13 at Las Vegas, and Seattle U. plays No. 2 UT Rio Grande Valley. New Mexico State is the top seed (23-6, 15-1).

The Redhawks were 5-of-6 from downtown in taking a 19-12 lead in the first quarter. At halftime, they boasted a 34-24 advantage, still hot from beyond the arc (7-of-9), while shooting just 5-for-18 from two-point range. GCU, meanwhile, was shooting 32 percent.

Photo by Scott Mammoser

“We’ve been getting ready for it,” said Redhawks center Joana Alves, who scored 14 points. “Three point (shooting) isn’t one of our strengths, but it’s been off lately, and in practices, we’ve been trying to get it back into rhythm. I think the fact that we hit the first ones off the bat gives us confidence.”

Laura Piera of GCU drained a three with the third quarter clock expiring to decrease the deficit to 53-42. She finished second on the team with 11 points.

GCU won the first meeting, 74-73, in 3OT, January 5 in Seattle. Cephas, along with fellow seniors Kavita Akula and Sharon Miller were honored in a postgame ceremony.

Seattle U. lost three of its starters from last season’s team that advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. Kamira Sanders led the Redhawks with 15 points on Saturday, while Madeline Dopplick and Carla Bieg each added 11 and were a combined 6-of-9 from three. They finished 11-of-16 from long range as a team.

“We were motivated through the whole season because we had a positive attitude,” Alves added. “I think this game motivated us even more to acknowledge it’s basketball and anything can happen.”