OPENING TIP

• Utah Valley University opens the Western Athletic Conference schedule on Thursday against Grand Canyon University at 6 p.m. MT in the UCCU Center. 
• After finishing sixth last season, the Wolverines (6-7) were picked to finish eighth by the league's coaches and were tied for fifth in the media preseason polls. 
• Jordan Holland continues to lead UVU with 12.9 points per game while Eve Braslis is scoring 10.3 points and grabbing a team-high 6.8 rebounds and Alexis Cortez is averaging 9.2 points. Maria Carvalho is dishing out an average 4.7 assists per game, which ranks third in the WAC. 
• Grand Canyon has a 9-3 edge in the all-time series and has won seven of the last eight between the teams. The Lopes defeated UVU, 72-56, in last season's WAC Tournament after the teams each earned 20-point home wins during the regular season. 

LAST TIME OUT
​​​​​​​Jordan Holland scored all 21 of her points in the second half but a late 3-pointer by Amiee Book helped Cal State Fullerton edge Utah Valley University, 56-55, last Satuday in Southern California. Holland was scoreless after taking just three shots in the first half before hitting all seven of her attempts from the field and hitting 5-for-7 from the free-throw line in the final 20 minutes. She also finished with four steals. Eve Braslis finished with 12 points and nine rebounds while Alexis Cortez added nine with Maria Carvalho dishing out five assists.  

ABOUT THE LOPES
Grand Canyon (2-8) has dropped five straight and has not played since Dec. 20, a 75-55 road loss at Santa Clara. The Lopes will travel to Seattle U for a Saturday afternoon contest. ShaRon Miller leads the team with 10.5 points per game while AJ Cephas is scoring 9.5 points and securing a team-high 6.2 rebounds. GCU is 0-5 on the road so far this season.

UP NEXT
The Wolverines host CSU Bakersfield on Saturday at 3 p.m. MT in Lockhart Arena on Saturday. They'll hit the road for the first time in WAC play next Saturday at Seattle U.