PHOENIX, Ariz.—Utah Valley was able to erase an 11-point Grand Canyon advantage in the second half but costly turnovers down the stretch helped the Antelopes to a 60-50 win over the Wolverines Saturday afternoon at GCU Arena.
 
Grand Canyon (10-12, 4-5) got out to an early eight-point lead, 12-4, at the 16:25 mark in the first half. Trailing by seven points, 26-19, with five minutes to play, Utah Valley went on a 6-2 run to cut the lead to just two points, 27-25, with 32 seconds in the first period. GCU then scored with 14 seconds left on the clock to take a 29-25 lead into the break.
 
The Antelopes scored the first seven points of the second half to take a 36-25 lead with 16:12 to play. Utah Valley responded with a 14-0 run capped off by three-straight makes from beyond the arc to take a 39-36 advantage with 13 minutes remaining. The two teams then exchanged baskets until GCU went on an 11-4 run in the final six minutes to secure the victory.
 
Utah Valley (9-15, 3-6) out-rebounded Grand Canyon 37-34 but committed 19 turnovers to GCU's eight. The 'Lopes were able to score 22 points off of the Wolverines turnovers.  UVU shot 41.3 percent of its shots from the field while holding Grand Canyon to a 36.7 percent clip.
 
"We took the momentum in the second half and had a good string of stops but the difference today was our turnovers," Nixon said. "They had 22 points off our turnovers and they took 14 more shots than we did. Defensively, we held them to 36 percent from the field and normally that is a game you are going to win. We had some untimely turnovers and then we had a hard time putting the ball in the basket down the stretch."
 
Rhaiah Spooner-Kinght led Utah Valley with 16 points. The sophomore guard hit 8-of-18 shots from the field and pulled down five rebounds in the setback. Freshman guard Mariah Seals recorded double digits with 11 points that included three made shots from long range. She also tallied four rebounds, one assist, one steal and a block. Junior Sam Loggins recorded nine points with six rebounds. Freshman Taylor Gordon and sophomore Karlee Norris each scored five points.
 
Freshman guard Casey Rarrick paced Grand Canyon with a game-high 20 points, which included five threes.
 
Utah Valley continues WAC road play at New Mexico State and Texas-Pan American next week. The Wolverines will play at NM State on Thursday at 7 p.m. MT., and at UTPA on Saturday at 2 p.m.