OREM, Utah — Tahlia White scored a career-high 23 points but Utah Valley was held off in its attempt to knock off WAC-leading Grand Canyon, 78-68, on Thursday night in the UCCU Center.
"Tonight, against a really good Grand Canyon team we really competed, even when we got down and didn't feel like things were going our way," said UVU head coach
Dan Nielson. "We kept coming and if a couple of bounces go our way, I think we're right there. We're not here for moral victories and it's frustrating to look at our conference record because I know we're better than that."
White was 9-for-13 from the field and made four of her six attempts from three.
Kylee Mabry added 12 points,
Tessa Chaney scored eight, and
Ally Criddle finished with seven points and six assists for the Wolverines (6-10, 1-6). Trinity San Antonio led five Lopes (15-3, 7-0) in double figures with 14 points while Anna Ostlie added 13 and made a trio of 3-pointers in the contest.
Grand Canyon jumped out to a quick 9-0 lead to start the game in a high-scoring first quarter before White started a 7-2 UVU spurt with a three. White scored 11 in the opening quarter as both teams shot the ball well. The Lopes were 5-for-9 from three in the first and carried a 30-23 lead after one.
The Wolverines scored the first four points of the second to get within three before eight straight Grand Canyon points—six coming on two Ostlie 3-pointers—to take a 38-27 lead. It was 40-29 at the 3:33 mark before Utah Valley closed the half on a 10-2 run to get within three, 42-39, at the half. White had 13 to lead all scorers while Jada Holland led Grand Canyon with 11 first-half points.
Utah Valley tied the game early in the third after a White triple and two Chaney free throws, knotting the score at 44-44. Tied at 46-46, Grand Canyon scored nine straight to retake the lead. UVU closed within five when White scored her 20th point of the contest midway through the third, but Grand Canyon responded with eight straight to push the advantage to 13, 63-50. GCU led 65-53 after three.
The Wolverines got as close as seven, 70-63, after five straight points on a White three and Criddle layup, but Grand Canyon answered with six straight to put the game out of reach.
UVU finished the game 25-for-55 from the field (45.5%) while Grand Canyon made 27-for-55 (49.1%) and 9-for-24 from three. The Wolverines were 7-for-20 from beyond the arc. GCU had a 38-24 advantage on the glass, 13 coming off the offensive end that led to 21 second-chance points. Utah Valley forced 19 GCU turnovers and limited its own to 13.
The Wolverines will now head to St. George to face Utah Tech in the Old Hammer Rivalry on Saturday at 2 p.m. MT.
