Box Score

IRVINE, Calif. - Metro State closed the game on a 10-1 run, but came up one point short, falling 64-63 to Grand Canyon (Ariz.) on Thursday in the final day of the Surf City Classic in Irvine, Calif.  The Roadrunners dropped to 6-6 overall this season, while the Antelopes moved to 6-5.

Metro State trailed 63-53 after a jumper by Stacy Haddow with 3:07 left to give GCU its largest lead of the afternoon.  But Leandra Sands (Long Beach, Calif./Long Beach Wilson H.S.) caught fire for the Roadrunners, scoring nine points in the final three minutes.  Her triple with 2:38 remaining cut the lead to 63-56.

Katie Johnson hit 1-of-2 at the line for the Antelopes following a pair of offensive rebounds, stretching their lead back to eight at 64-56.  Metro State scored a second chance point of its own after Kristin Valencia (Moriarty, N.M./Moriarty H.S.) grabbed her own rebound in converted one of her two free throw attempts with 1:33 left.

After the Roadrunners forced a turnover, Sands drilled a 3-pointer with 1:12 remaining to cut the lead to 64-60.  Brandi Valencia (Moriarty, N.M./Moriarty H.S.) came away with a steal on GCU's next possession and Sands continued her hot streak, hitting a 3-pointer with 46 seconds left, slashing the deficit to just one point at 64-63.

Metro State took possession back with 12 seconds to play after holding the Antelopes to a missed shot, but following a timeout, Candice Kohn (Midland, Texas/Midland Christian H.S.)'s 3-point attempt with two seconds left missed and GCU held on for the win.

Sands led Metro State with her second 20+ point performance of the season, finishing with 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including 5-of-6 from the outside.  Her five 3-pointers were the most for a Roadrunners since Sharaya Selsor (Glenwood Springs, Colo./Glenwood Springs H.S.) buried five against the Academy of Art (Calif.) on Jan. 3, 2009.  Sands also had two rebounds, two steals and two assists on Thursday.

Chelsea Williamson (Boulder, Colo./Boulder H.S.) scored 15 points, hitting 4-of-6 from the floor and 6-of-8 at the line.  However, she fouled out for the second consecutive game and was limited to just 20 minutes with the foul trouble.

Jasmine Cervantes (Johnstown, Colo./Berthoud H.S.) tied Kristin Valencia (Moriarty, N.M./Moriarty H.S.) with a team-high seven rebounds and added 10 points.  Valencia finished with seven points and three assists.

The Roadrunners shot 46.3 (19-for-43) percent from the floor and 19-of-28 (67.9 percent) from the line.  A day after committing the most turnovers in seven years with 29, they turned the ball over 19 times.  Metro State also forced 19 turnovers on Thursday.

Ashley Hardin led GCU with 14 points.

Metro State will look to open the new year with a win on Saturday, Jan. 9, when it hosts Western New Mexico at 5 p.m.

Williamson was also named to the Surf City Classic All-Tournament team late Thursday evening.  In two games, she averaged 12.5 points, while shooting 7-for-9 (77.8 percent) from the floor and 10-of-12 (83.3 percent) from the outside.

Surf City Classic All-Tournament Team
Nicole Fu (Concordia University)
Kayanna Nichols (Concordia University)
Sarah Soroka (Daemen College) - MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER
Ashley Hardin (Grand Canyon University)
Chelsea Williamson (Boulder, Colo./Boulder H.S.) (Metro State)
Jessie Domes (Purchase College)
Stephanie Smith (Washington & Jefferson College)
Tiffany Gregorich (University of Wisconsin – River Falls)
Alise Holst (University of Wisconsin – River Falls)
Brittany Powell (Xavier University)