OREM, Utah—Grand Canyon University used a big third quarter and some timely shooting in the fourth to earn a split of the weekend series with Utah Valley University, 72-62, on Saturday afternoon in the UCCU Center.
 
The Lopes (14-4, 6-2) outscored the Wolverines (7-4, 5-3) 30-16 in the third and then, after UVU took a lead in the fourth, closed the game on a 15-2 run. Grand Canyon moved back into sole possession of second place with the win. 
 
"I feel like we played really well for seven of the eight quarters, but they really sold out on their pressure today and in that third quarter they really dictated the pace. Give them credit, they had some players step up and hit some big shots late and were able to stretch it out," said UVU head coach Dan Nielson. "I'm proud of our girls though and the way we responded after going into the fourth down by eight. I think it says a lot about this program and where we've come to have a team be that excited to win on your court."
 
Maria Carvalho led Utah Valley with 15 points, nine assists and six rebounds while Nehaa Sohail added 14 points and nine boards, Shay Fano scored 13 and grabbed seven rebounds and Madison Grange added a career-high 13 points off the bench. Grand Canyon had four players score in double figures, led by 16 from Tiarra Brown. Laura Piera was one of three Lopes to finish with 12 points. She scored eight of those during a decisive 10-0 run late in the game.
 
UVU trailed by eight, 55-47, entering the fourth but scored the first five points to quickly get within a possession. Down, 57-52, Carvalho—who was 4-for-5 from three in the game—beat the clock with a tough runner and then tied the game with a three with 6:57 remaining. On the next possession she found Grange in the corner for three to cap a 13-2 run and UVU led 60-57 with 6:19 to go.
 
Carla Balague scored to get GCU back to within one before Piera hit back-to-back 3-pointers and later a pullup jumper to cap the 10-0 run. Grange scored with 2:01 left to make it a five-point game but the Lopes would go on to score the final five points of the contest.  
 
Grand Canyon was 26-for-56 (46.4%) from the floor and made 9-of-21 from beyond the arc. Utah Valley hit 21-of-46 (45.7%) and shot 9-for-18 from three. After the Wolverines doubled up the Lopes on the glass on Friday, 42-21, the rebounds were even at 28 apiece.
 
The Lopes hit their first three shots from the field to build a quick 7-1 lead just 90 seconds in. Grand Canyon didn't hit another field the rest of the quarter, missing its last 11 attempts and the only points coming three free-throws from Tianna Brown. Carvalho hit a three to give Utah Valley its first lead, 8-7, with 3:29 to go. With UVU in front 11-10, Grange scored on a feed from Carvalho and Fano on an assist from Grange, at the Wolverines led 15-10 after one.
 
Fano hit two from the line to open the second, giving UVU a 17-10 advantage and extending the run to 16-3. The Wolverines stretched lead to as much as nine, when Sohail hit two from the line and then a pull-up jumper to make it 23-14. GCU chipped away with a 9-1 run that was capped by a Tavia Rowell three, getting within one, 24-23. Sohail answered with a three and another layup to extend it back to six. She scored all nine of her first-half points in the second quarter and the Wolverines led 31-25 at the break.
 
The Lopes came out of halftime and quickly ran off a 13-3 run just three minutes into the third to take 38-34 lead. Carvalho knocked down a three and later, with the Wolverines down 42-37, she hit another from long distance to get UVU back within two.
 
The Lopes continued to have success offensively, converting on separate streaks of five straight and six straight from the field in the third. GCU was 12-for-16 (75%) from the field in the third, including 4-of-5 from three in the quarter. 

The Wolverines will host New Mexico State next Friday and Saturday in the UCCU Center. Friday's tip is set for 5:30 p.m. MT and Saturday starts at 3 p.m. MT.