February 22, 2020
By Scott Mammoser
PHOENIX - The Grand Canyon University women’s basketball
team saw its eight-game winning streak come to an end after a 64-54 home loss
to Utah Valley on Saturday. Jordan Holland led the Wolverines (11-14, 8-5 WAC)
with 20 points and nine rebounds. The Lopes (15-9, 10-3) still hold first place
in the conference and have won 10 of 12.
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| GCU ends 8 game winning streak with loss to Utah Valley |
The Wolverines pounced onto a 13-0 start, keeping the Lopes
off the scoreboard until Venla Varis knocked down two free throws with two
minutes remaining in the first quarter. GCU was held without a field goal until
Tianna Brown scored 1:30 later. Utah Valley held a 13-4 lead after one, with
Eve Braslis already scoring eight points with five rebounds. GCU outscored the
Wolverines, 22-20, in the second, to decrease the lead to 33-26 at the half,
with the bench outscoring Utah Valley’s 16-0. GCU freshman guard Tavia Rowell
scored with the clock expiring to end the third, with her team down 51-45.
Holland’s three pointer gave Utah Valley a 10-point lead
with three minutes remaining, and that was the dagger. Braslis ended with 17
points and eight boards, while Marie Carvalho scored 10 and dished six assists.
Varis led GCU with 13 points, Brown scored 11, and senior Da’jah Daniel
recorded 10 points and nine rebounds in her final game at GCU Arena.
“The first quarter, we were just not ready to go,” Varis
said. “The opponent came in here, they were ready to play, we were not ready to
play. We got in foul trouble with our bigs and had to play four guards.”
In total, the GCU bench outscored the Wolverines’ 30-7, and
UVU owned the second chance points, 18-4.
The Lopes have three more road games remaining before the
WAC Tournament begins on March 11 in Las Vegas. The first is at New Mexico
State on Feb. 27, followed with games at UTRGV and CSU Bakersfield on Feb. 29
and March 7. Utah Valley will conclude its home schedule against California
Baptist on Feb. 26.
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