PHOENIX, Ariz. | The Grambling State University women's basketball team gave the Lopes of Grand Canyon University all they could handle, but a late rally by GCU had the Lady Tigers come up just short, 63-56, on Saturday night at GCU arena.

The duo of Colbi Maples and Leah Morrow combined to score 29 points. Maples poured in a game-high 15 points on 6-of-13 shooting from the field, while Morrow scored 14 points, going 5-for-12.

Phylicia Allen also had an efficient outing for the Lady Tigers, registering 10 points of her own. 

Grambling State (0-3) controlled the first half, never trailing before halftime. GSU opened the contest on a 9-2 run. GCU (2-0) trailed by as little as one point, 18-17, in the first quarter. GSU ended the frame with a 24-19 lead.

Maples sparked an 11-4 run by GSU to begin the second quarter. With 6:42 to go until halftime, she splashed a 3-pointer, giving Grambling State its largest lead of the game, 35-23. The Lady Tigers led 37-31 at the break. 

The complexion of the contest began the change in the third quarter as Grand Canyon began to chip away at GSU's advantage. A layup by Evan Zars tied game 45-45 at the 3:11 mark. The Lopes snagged their first lead of the game, 49-48, on a bucket at the buzzer by Aaliyah Collins.

Both teams traded buckets in the fourth period. Leah Morrow hit a big jumper, putting GSU up 56-54 with 3:59 to go, but the Lady Tigers was held scoreless the rest of the way as Grand Canyon scored the final nine points of the contest to escape with the 63-59 triumph. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Grambling State shot season-high 41.7 percent (20-of-48) from the field and 30.8 percent (4-of-13) from three-point line. The Lady Tigers went 12-of-16 (75.0 percent) from the charity stripe.
• Grand Canyon was 27-of-67 from the floor (40.3 percent), shooting 19 percent (4-of-21) from three-point range. The Lopes went 5-of-8 (62.5 percent) from the free throw line
• GSU was out-rebounded 37-35
• The Lady Tigers was outscored in the paint 46-20
• Grambling State scored nine points off turnovers. GCU scored 14.
• Both benches scored 12 points each.
• Colbi Maples scored 15 points with six rebounds, three assists and one steal.
• Leah Morrow added 14 points with four rebounds, four steals, one assist and one block.
• Phylicia Allen tallied 10 points with three rebounds, one assist and one steal.
• Tiarra Brown and Naudia Evans paced grand Canyon with 14 points apiece. 

UP NEXT 
Grambling State gears up for its home opener versus New Orleans on Friday, November 18 at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. 

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