Murphy scores 24, Butler adds 16 with 12 boards, but Cal Poly Pomona beats GCU 68-61

POMONA, CA – Grand Canyon’s Samantha Murphy scored 24 points and Jallisa Butler added 16 with 12 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough as Cal Poly Pomona defeated the Antelopes 68-61 in the NCAA Division II West Region Championship Monday night in Pomona, CA.

The loss snaps Grand Canyon’s 17-game winning streak and ends a brilliant season that saw the Antelopes represent the Pacific West Conference in the regional final for the first time in conference history.

Grand Canyon fell behind 14-2, scoring just one bucket in the first 11 minutes of the contest, and slipped behind by as many as 13 points before roaring back as the half came to a close. Cal Poly Pomona’s lead shrunk to 26-19 at the break.

But the Antelopes could not get untracked from beyond the arc, making only 2 of 16 three-point attempts for the game.

Murphy and Butler were named to the All-Tournament Team for their outstanding play.