PHOENIX – Jordan Holland scored 20 points and Eve Braslis added 17 as Utah Valley University defeated WAC-leading Grand Canyon on the road, 64-54, on Saturday afternoon. The win gives the Wolverines (11-14, 8-5) a sweep of its two-game trip through Bakersfield and Phoenix, and also snaps the Lopes (15-9, 10-3) eight-game winning streak.
 
"The girls came out and set a good defensive tone right from the beginning of the game," said UVU head coach Dan Nielson. "We got into some foul trouble and had to adjust a lot and everyone who came in stepped up and played big. I'm especially proud of the defensive effort and our execution down the stretch. It speaks a lot to the resiliency of this group to go out and get two road wins this week."
 
Holland also hauled in nine rebounds while Braslis had eight boards as UVU out-rebounded GCU 43-27. The Wolverines had 16 offensive rebounds and turned that into 18 second chance points. Maria Carvalho added 10 points and six assists for the Wolverines. The win is the first road victory for the Wolverines at Grand Canyon, and comes just two days after Utah Valley got its first road win at CSU Bakersfield. 
 
The Wolverines jumped out to a 13-0 lead less than five minutes into the game. The Lopes missed their first eight attempts from the field and didn't score until a pair of free throws at the 2:01 mark. UVU suffered through a stretch of 10 straight misses that spanned the last half of the first and two minutes of the second. Still, the Wolverines led by as much as 15 in the first half.
 
Grand Canyon chipped away, finishing the half on a 7-0 run including four straight free throws in the final 18 seconds. Utah Valley led 33-26 at the break.
 
The Lopes extended the run to 10-0 with a Venla Varis three right out of halftime. The Wolverines led by two when Braslis knocked down her second 3-pointer of the game at the 6:19 mark of the third. Grand Canyon would get no closer than three the rest of the way. Utah Valley led 51-45 after three quarters.
 
Grand Canyon made it a 56-52 game with 5:13 left, but Holland scored and was fouled to convert a 3-point play and later buried a 3-pointer to give UVU a 62-52 lead with 2:48 remaining. Holland scored eight points in the fourth and 15 of her 20 in the second half.
 
Varis led three GCU players in double figures with 13 points. Tianna Brown added 11 and Da'jah Daniel finished with 10 points and nine rebounds.
 
Utah Valley returns to Orem for the final home game of the year next Wednesday against California Baptist on Senior Night. Tip is set for 6 p.m. MT in Lockhart Arena and seniors Alexis Cortez, Keana Delos Santos and Holland will be honored prior to the game.