OPENING TIP
Coming off of a hard-fought overtime win at CSU Bakersfield on Thursday night, Utah Valley University travels to Phoenix to battle first-place Grand Canyon University on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. in GCU Arena.

The Wolverines (14-10, 7-5) are currently in third place in the WAC standings, right in front of a trio of 6-6 teams. The Lopes (15-8, 10-2) lead the league and are one game in the loss column in front of Kansas City (10-3). Utah Valley is looking to earn a series split with GCU in Saturday's contest. The Lopes have won eight in a row including a 66-59 win in Orem that snapped the Wolverines' seven-game win streak.

In Thursday's win in Bakersfield, Jordan Holland scored seven of her game-high 17 points in overtime as the Wolverines split the regular season series with the Runners.  Eve Braslis scored 13 points and Maria Carvalho added 11 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Josie Williams finished with 11 points and eight boards and Madison Grange matched her career high with seven rebounds.

The Wolverines got a three from Carvalho with just under six seconds left in regulation to go up three, but CSUB got a foul call on a 3-point attempt and converted on all three free-throws to force OT. UVU trailed by two in the extra frame before going on an 11-0 run to earn the victory. 

ABOUT THE LOPES
Grand Canyon hasn't lost since falling to Kansas City on Jan. 18 in Phoenix. The Lopes earned a split at Kansas City last week, 62-56, before defeating Chicago State on Saturday and then holding off Seattle U on Thursday night. Saturday is also the final home game of the season for GCU. Jada Holland, the reigning WAC Player of the Week, and Da'jah Daniel both average 12.2 points per game to lead Grand Canyon. Daniel also averages a WAC-high 10.6 rebounds per game. The Wolverines trail the all-time series 11-4 and have lost the last two to the Lopes. UVU is 0-6 all-time at GCU.

COMING UP
The Wolverines will play their final home game next Wednesday against California Baptist. It will be Senior Night for Utah Valley's three seniors: Alexis Cortez, Keana Delos Santos, and Jordan Holland.