PHOENIX, Arizona – The HBU women's basketball team dropped their last game of the GCU Women's Basketball Classic, 63-54, against GCU Saturday afternoon in the GCU Arena.

The Huskies (3-4, 0-0 SLC) and The Lopes (4-1, 0-0 WAC) played a tightly contested first half, with no team leading by more than five points. GCU got on the board to open things up with a quick three ball before a pair of Husky layups by Marilyn Nzoiwu and N'Denasija Collins gave HBU their first lead of the contest. GCU would make a few layups to regain the lead before Collins would hit a big three to bring things back to even at seven. Both teams would go into a scoring drought over the next three minutes before Kennedy Wilson knocked down two free throws to give the Huskies another two point lead. The teams would alternate buckets throughout the rest of the period until Enya Maguire would make two free throws with just 30 seconds left to give the Huskies a 16-13 advantage going into the second quarter.
 
It was more of the same in the second quarter with both sides knocking down big shots to keep the score close. A layup by Julija Vujakovic and a three ball from Wilson with a minute and a half left would give the Huskies their largest lead of the game. However, The Lopes closed out the period with a knock down three pointer from Tianna Brown and a layup from Jay McChristine to even things at 28-28 heading into the half.
 
The third quarter was equally as contested as the first two. Neither team led by more than three points heading into the fourth. After the Lopes tied things at 39-39, Vujakovic hit a three pointer off of an offensive rebound to go up 42-39 with just over two minutes to play. The next trip down the court, the Lopes gathered three offensive rebounds and converted on an and-one layup to bring the score back to even, before Dominique Phillips knocked down a mid-range jumper with 30 seconds on the clock to close out the scoring in the quarter. The Lopes took a 44-42 lead into the final quarter.
 
The Huskies came out quick on a 7-0 run to open the fourth on made free throws from Collins and Nzoiwu and knock down jumpers from Maguire and Vujakovic to give the Huskies a 49-44 advantage. With 6:44 left in the game, the Lopes made a layup off of an offensive rebound that would spark a 14-0 run over the next four minutes that would open the Lopes lead to 10 points. Vujakovic would put an end to the HBU scoring drought with a fast break layup, but there was too little time left for the Huskies to make a run.

Collins led the Huskies in scoring with 12 points (5-8 FG) and added six rebounds, two assists, and a team-high four steals. Vujakovic added 11 points (5-8 FG) while Nzoiwu just missed earning her third double-double in a row with 10 points (3-4 FG, 4-4 FT) and nine rebounds. Maguire and Wilson each added six points while Timia Jefferson added four. Abbey Sutherland had the only Husky block of the game.
 
The Lopes were led by McChristine who had 16 points (7-13 FG) and nine boards while Amara Graham added 13 points and shot a team high 50 percent from three point range.
 
Both teams were statistically very similar, both knocking down 37 percent of their shots. GCU had the slight advantage in free-throw percentage, 79-76, total rebounds, 38-36, bench points, 16-13, and steals, 12-10. There were eight ties and 14 lead changes throughout the contest.
 
The Huskies return home to Sharp Gym to host the Texas State Bobcats on Greek Night, Tuesday 6 p.m.