In a game that didn't see either team enjoy a double-digit lead until the 4^th quarter, Grand Canyon University Women's Club Basketball Team 1 suddenly couldn't find the shooting touch in the final period in dropping a 54-46 decision to Park University JV Saturday morning at the Canyon Activity Center on the GCU campus. The loss dropped the Lopes from the unbeaten ranks in Arizona Women's Basketball League play. In the first game of Saturday's AWBL doubleheader, GCU Team 2 couldn't recover from a deep 1^st-half deficit in losing to PHH Prep, 48-40.
 
The Lopes overcame a slow start to the game, scoring just five points in the first six minutes, but closed out the 1^st half strong to take a slim 22-21 lead behind Elleah Hoekert's 10 first-half points. The two teams jockeyed back-and-forth for the lead throughout the 3^rd quarter, but Park's Allison DeBerry caught fire with a pair of three-pointers in the period to tie the score at 35-35 heading to the final period. In the 4^th quarter, the Lopes showed signs of fatigue, missing several layups and leaving long-distance shots short in the first five minutes, and the Buccaneers took advantage, building their lead to as many as 12 points at one point. The Lopes staged a furious rally, getting to within 5 points with just under three minutes left, but got no closer.
 
Aubree Evans-who made all three of GCU's field goals in the final quarter-led the Lopes in scoring with 18 points, while Hoekert added 12 points. DeBerry led the Bucs with 18 points, while Jenny Todd kicked in 15 points, and converted three of Park's eight treys on the day.
 
In the 9AM game, GCU Team 2 suffered through an icy shooting first half, trailing by as many as 20 points before rallying late, scoring half of their 40 points in the 4^th quarter. GCU's Brianna Stockton led the offensive attack with 10 points.
 
The AWBL schedule will take Martin Luther King Day off Monday, so GCU 2 returns to action next Saturday, January 21 with a 10:30AM matchup against Arizona Christian University, while GCU 1 will have nine days off before facing Bella Vista Preparatory Academy on 7:30PM on Monday, January 23. All games will be held at the CAC.