Grand Canyon free throws sink Lady Aggies

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PHOENIX, Ariz. (Nov. 17) - A decisive advantage at the charity stripe proved to be the difference Wednesday, as Grand Canyon University kept the Cameron women's basketball team winless with a 61-56 victory over the Lady Aggies.

The home team shot twice as many free throws on the night, outscoring Cameron 22-6 at the line.

Coach Dick Halterman's Lady Aggies (0-2) will have a week to regroup, returning to action to host the annual Cameron Thanksgiving PowerAde Classic, Nov. 26-27, at Aggie Gym.

Brittany Cooksey led the Cameron offensive effort Wednesday, scoring 15 of her game-high 17 points in the opening period as the Lady Aggies built a nine-point (34-25) halftime lead. Christina Buben added 11 points and posted her first double-double of the season with 10 rebounds in the game, while seven other Cameron players contributed to the final score.

Cameron led much of the contest, but Grand Canyon nabbed its first lead since the opening minutes of the contest on a Sherlyn Hatch free throw with 7:11 remaining in the game and never looked back. Hatch was one of seven 'Lopes to score from the free throw line in the game, led by a 6-of-8 effort by Stacie Alvarez.

Cameron finished the game 6-of-16 from the free throw line, while Grand Canyon hit 22-of-33 charity tosses, including 17-of-22 in the second half.

The Lady Aggies will look to crack the win column with a pair of contests in next week's PowerAde Classic. Cameron will take on the NAIA's third-ranked Oklahoma City Stars on Friday, Nov. 26, before wrapping up action in the festival the next day against Oklahoma Panhandle State. Both contests are expected to tip off at 8 p.m.