Akula, Miller tally career-bests in loss

Saturday, January 20

Phoenix, Ariz.

2 P.M.

Grand Canyon

9-10, 3-2

UMKC

7-13, 3-2

UMKC

Grand Canyon

1/20/2018 3:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Lopes fall to UMKC at home

By: Sarah Woodward

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Shooting woes and a strong Kansas City defense plagued the Grand Canyon women's basketball team on Saturday afternoon at the GCU Arena, as the Lopes (9-10, 3-2 WAC) came up short to UMKC (7-13, 3-2 WAC), 62-59.

The pair of juniors in Kavita Akula and ShaRon Miller tallied career-high scoring marks to lead the Lopes in today's game, as the pair tallied 12 points apiece.

Akula was 4-of-6 from long range, while Miller added four rebounds to her game resume.

The trio of seniors in Brie Mobley, August Touchard and Jessica Gajewski each had 11 points apiece, while Mobley led the Lopes in rebounding and assists with nine each. Touchard also added three assists and Gajewski added four boards.

Sophomore Vanessa Murphy contributed four boards as well.

Grand Canyon got off to an early lead in the first quarter and went ahead by as many as six points, before closing out the period with a one-point, 12-11 advantage.

The pair were knotted at 17 with 5:13 to play in the half, before the Roos established a lead they wouldn't lose for the remainder of the game. The Lopes trailed, 26-21, heading to the locker room at half time, as Miller led with a team-high eight points and Mobley had a team-best four rebounds and four assists at the break.

UMKC established a lead as large as 13 points in the fourth quarter, while the Lopes closed the gap to just two points, 59-57, with 22 seconds on the clock.

A series of free throws gave the Lopes hope, but the clock ran short with GCU behind, 62-59.

The Lopes take a week off from competition before returning to the GCU Arena to host Utah Valley on Saturday, January 27. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. (MT).