OREM, Utah – The University of Montana used a decisive fourth-quarter run to top Utah Valley University, 63-52, on Saturday in Lockhart Arena.
 
The Wolverines (1-7) carried a 43-38 lead into the final 10 minutes of play, but the Lady Griz (4-3) went on a 13-0 run and held UVU scoreless for over five minutes down the stretch. Montana outscored Utah Valley 25-9 in the fourth.
 
Madison Grange scored a season-high 10 points to lead a balanced UVU scoring afternoon. Nehaa Sohail and Jordan Holland both added nine and Eve Braslis and Megan Jensen scored eight apiece. Montana had five players score in double figures, led by a game-high 15 from Jamie Pickens. Mckenzie Johnston added 10 points and eight assists for the Lady Griz.
 
"The first three quarters we had good energy and executed what we wanted to do. The thing we have to make the biggest strides on are learning how to win down the stretch," said head coach Dan Nielson. "We're making progress, we're headed in the right direction and now the goal is to put it together for a complete game."
 
It was slow-going for both teams on the offensive end early on. The Wolverines led 6-2 after Braslis scored with 6:33 left in the first before the team missed it next eight attempts from the field. The Lady Griz scored the game's only points over the next four minutes, taking a 7-6 lead on a Pickens three.
 
Keana Delos Santos answered with a 3-pointer to put UVU back in front and, with the Wolverines down 12-9 in the closing seconds of the quarter, Jensen beat the buzzer with a three to tie the game after one.
 
Grange knocked down a 3-pointer to start the second quarter and put UVU in front by three before Montana scored 10 straight to take a 22-15 lead.  The Wolverines responded with a 7-0 spurt to tie it at 22-22, with all seven coming from Sohail. The Wolverines didn't allow the Lady Griz a made field goal for over six minutes of game time, with all of Montana's points coming from the foul line. UVU led 30-28 in the closing seconds before Taylor Goligoski hit a jumper right before the buzzer sounded, tying it at 30 at the break.
 
With the game tied at 32 early in the third, Grange scored five points during a 7-0 Utah Valley run, capping with her second three and forcing a Montana timeout. Sohail extended it to a 9-0 run, giving the UVU its biggest lead, 41-32, with 4:25 left in the third. Montana closed to within five, 43-38, after three. 
 
The Lady Griz scored the first four points of the fourth, extending their run to 8-0 and making it a 43-42 contest. Holland answered with a 3-point-play on a floater and a free-throw to push the lead to four. Grange hit a runner from the baseline to give UVU 50-48 lead with 6:05 remaining before Montana began its 13-0 run. Holland finally stopped the run with a driving layup but it was too late, coming with just 31 seconds to go. 

Montana shot 42.6% (23-for-54) from the field but were 9-for-14 (63%) in the fourth quarter. Utah Valley was 20-for-61 (32.8%) from the floor and were just 4-for-16 in the final quarter. 

The Wolverines will be off for finals until next Saturday, Dec. 14 when they make the short trip to BYU for a 2 p.m. MT tip-off.