PHOENIX, Ariz. (Jan. 31, 2026) – The Wyoming Cowgirls struggled most of the day offensively as their four-game winning streak was snapped Saturday on the road at Grand Canyon. GCU won the first-ever meeting between the two schools, 57-47.
GCU got out to a fast start, hitting three of its first four from 3-point range. The Cowgirls missed 7-of-8 to start the game and trailed 14-4 at the first media timeout. Following the timeout, Wyoming settled in and would end the first with a 7-0 run to whittle the deficit down to 14-11 after one.
The second quarter began like the first, with Grand Canyon burying a 3-pointer. The Antelopes jumped on UW early again to begin a frame, lengthening the lead up to 19-12. After a Malene Pedersen 3-pointer, GCU responded right back and led 28-15 at the media. The rest of the half saw the Cowgirl offense come alive a bit as the two schools traded points before the 'Lopes built their lead up to 37-21 at the break.
Wyoming would get the first bucket of the second half before the Antelopes would again have a strong start to a quarter. GCU kept getting a friendly whistle as it built the lead to 48-28 at the third quarter media timeout. Despite playing solid defense to end the third, the Cowgirl offensive struggles continued the rest of the third as they trailed 50-32 going to the fourth.
A Henna Sandvik layup, followed by a Malene Pedersen 3-pointer and layup, started the fourth for the Cowgirls as they cut the deficit down to 50-39 early in the fourth, forcing a Grand Canyon timeout. Any hopes of a Wyoming comeback were dashed as the 'Lopes came out of the timeout and extended the lead back up to 16. UW would fight back however, continuing to play strong defense and got to within eight with under two minutes to play. It was a little too late to complete the comeback, however from there.
With its fourth quarter surge, the Cowgirls actually ended up shooting better from the field than GCU as they shot 31.5-percent (17-54) to Grand Canyon's 27.9-percent (17-61). The Antelopes made four more 3-pointers on the day and six more free throws, however. The 'Lopes also enjoyed a 11-2 advantage in second-chance points and outscored the Cowgirls 18-4 in points off turnovers, despite committing just two fewer turnovers than Wyoming.
Pedersen led all scorers and was the only Cowgirl in double figures as she recorded her sixth 20-point game of the season, scoring exactly 20 on the day. It was the 15th 20-point outing of Pedersen's career while her consecutive games streak of scoring in double digits reached 41 straight. Pedersen also had two of Wyoming's three made 3-pointers.
Heidur Karlsdottir was stellar off the bench, scoring a career-high nine points while pulling down five rebounds. Karlsdottir, who also made a career-best five free throws, tied a career-high with three blocks. Jane Rumpf and Sandvik scored seven and six, respectively. Sandvik had a team-best four assists in the loss.
Next up, Wyoming returns home Wednesday night for a 6:30 contest against New Mexico to open the month of February.
-WYO-