STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Tarleton State fell on a Saturday for the first time this season, dropping to 3-1 on the day with a 79-47 loss against Grand Canyon at Wisdom Gym in Stephenville, Texas.
 
The Texans (4-10, 1-4 WAC), dropped their third straight overall, and their fifth straight at home, while the Lopes (14-3, 6-0 WAC) won their sixth straight and their 12th in the last 13 games. Grand Canyon entered as the No. 2 ranked team in the WAC, two days after Tarleton hosted the No. 1 ranked team in the conference.
 
GCU jumped out to an 18-1 lead and commanded the game, leading by as many as 38 points. The Lopes outshot the Texans 25-of-52 (.481) to 12-of-50 (.240), and didn't allow Tarleton to make a two-point basket in the first half. The Lopes outscored the Texans 30-8 in the paint and outrebounded them 40-31. The Texans won the turnover battle 19-21, and seven different Texans were credited a steal.
 
Jakoriah Long led Tarleton in scoring once again, this time with nine points to go with two assists. Teresa Da Silva added eight points and five rebounds, and Tyler Jackson chipped in eight points as well.
 
GCU held an 18-1 lead more than six minutes in, as the Texans missed their first eight shots and had four turnovers before their first field goal make at the 3:23 mark, a Nykesha Sanders three-ball. The Lopes led 28-7 after one, forcing Tarleton to shoot 1-of-12 (.083) in the frame.
 
GCU built a 29-point lead in the second quarter before leading at the break 46-20. Tarleton's four field goal makes in the first half were all three-pointers, and they added eight free throws.
 
The third quarter was seemingly whistle-free and had good pace, a low scoring frame knotted at 11 as GCU maintained the same 26-point lead headed to the fourth, 57-31. The fourth quarter was flooded with whistles as GCU built a 38-point lead and won by 32.
 
The Lopes were led by Sydney Erikstrup's 21 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including 4-of-7 from distance, to go with four rebounds. Jada Holland tallied 15 points (5-of-7 FG), five rebounds, six assists and two steals. Laura Erikstrup powered the bench with 11 points (7-8 FT) and four rebounds.
 
The Texans turn their attention to rivalry Thursday in Abilene, as they'll face the Wildcats at Moody Coliseum at 6 p.m.