EDINBURG, Texas -- A buzzer-beating layup by Cherrell Price sealed a 57-55 defeat for the Utah Valley University women's basketball team against Texas-Pan American on Saturday afternoon in the UTPA Fieldhouse.

With six seconds remaining, Karlee Norris made a layup to tie the contest at 55-55 before Price's bucket sent the Broncs (16-12, 8-4) to the win. The Wolverines dropped to 9-17 overall and 3-8 in the WAC with three games to go in the regular season. UVU dropped both contests on this week's two-game road swing but lost by just five on Thursday at league-leading New Mexico State before Saturday's heartbreaker against third-place UTPA.

"I'm super proud of the way the girls battled. We talked about coming in and proving that we can compete with the best. I think we showed that on Thursday and that we showed today that we are a team to be reckoned with," said head coach Cathy Nixon. "It breaks my heart that we didn't come away with a win in either game on this trip. But I am very pleased with the effort. I think we did a great job defensively, and as a team, offensively, I told the girls that this experience will make us better, make us stronger, and I'm confident that its going to come out on the court."

With 5:03 remaining, Rhaiah Spooner-Knight made a jumper to tie the score 49-49 until Price made two free throws for another Bronc lead 51-49. Spooner-Knight tied the contest once again with a jumper with 1:56 left to play. Price was sent to the line again where she made one-of-two free throws to take a Bronc lead 52-51 with 1:44 remaining. Georgia Agnew made a clutch layup for a Wolverine lead, which was matched with a layup from Price. Price was sent to the line once again and sank another free throw for a two-point lead, 55-53, setting up the wild finish.
 
Mariah Seals led Utah Valley with 16 points and teammate Spooner-Knight added 12. Agnew added seven, and Norris and Sam Loggins each tallied six. Deijah Blanks added four, Rebecca MaWhinney finished with 3, and Patrice Toston chipped in one to round out the Wolverine scoring. Agnew led on the boards with nine, while Norris and Spooner-Knight each finished with eight. The Wolverines outshot Texas-Pan American 38.5 percent to 33.3 percent on the night.
 
In the first half, the Wolverines overcame a seven-point deficit to take the lead 31-29 at the break. The Broncs quickly went on a 13-2 run to have a 17-10 lead with 9:27 remaining. The Broncs held the lead until Seals swung the momentum for Utah Valley with a three pointer, a layup and a free throw in the final two minutes of the half.
 
Utah Valley returns home to play Kansas City on Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. MT and Chicago State on Feb. 28 at 3 p.m. MT in the PE Building in the final two home games of the season.