Grand Canyon Dominates Utah State in Basketball Exhibition
The Lopes cruised to a 78-48 victory over Utah State at Global Credit Union Arena in Phoenix.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Basketball
Live Poll
Do you believe this basketball team has the right roster depth to improve their local performance?
Grand Canyon defeated Utah State 78-48 in a women's basketball exhibition game held at Global Credit Union Arena. The Lopes secured the win by jumping to an early 24-6 lead after the first quarter.
Why it matters
This exhibition match served as a final tune-up for both programs before the official start of their collegiate schedules. It provided a diagnostic opportunity for coaches to evaluate player rotations and team chemistry under game conditions.
Grand Canyon dominated from deep, connecting on 14 of 26 three-point attempts compared to Utah State's one made shot in 20 tries. Utah State struggled at the charity stripe, converting only 11 of 21 free throw attempts.
The players
Nicole Ogun
She is a collegiate basketball player for Utah State who led her team in both scoring and rebounding during the exhibition contest.
Aaliyah Gayles
She is a student-athlete for Utah State who contributed 11 points in the exhibition matchup against Grand Canyon.
Grand Canyon
This is a Phoenix-based university that operates a competitive NCAA Division I women's basketball program.
Utah State
This is a public research university that fields a women's basketball team as part of its athletic department.
The details
Grand Canyon maintained a high offensive efficiency throughout the contest, shooting 54.5% from the field. For Utah State, Nicole Ogun led the effort with 12 points and nine rebounds, while teammate Aaliyah Gayles added 11 points in the loss.
Timeline
October 27, 2026: Utah State played its exhibition game against Grand Canyon.
November 2, 2026: Utah State is scheduled to open its regular season against Westminster.
Season Trajectory
This game serves as the final evaluation point in the NCAA women's basketball exhibition calendar before teams transition to high-stakes regular season play. Coaches utilize these results to refine defensive schemes and solidify rotations ahead of opening week.
Utah State's 30% field goal percentage and single made three-pointer highlight significant offensive efficiency concerns that must be addressed before the November 2 season opener. The team's ability to force turnovers via defensive traps in the third quarter remains its primary tactical asset.
The takeaway
Preseason exhibitions offer a clear look at a team's current shooting proficiency and defensive execution against live opponents. Players and coaches use these results to identify specific statistical gaps that need immediate attention before games count toward tournament eligibility.
What happens next
Utah State will officially begin its 2026-2027 regular season on November 2 against Westminster.
Further reading
For more analysis on the upcoming college schedule, visit the Basketball section.
Live Poll
Do you believe this basketball team has the right roster depth to improve their local performance?
