GRAND FORKS, N.D. – A slow start in the first quarter was too much to overcome, as the North Dakota women's basketball team fell 73-61 to Grand Canyon (2-0) in the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.
 
The Lopes set the pace early in the first quarter, taking a 10-4 lead at the first media timeout and would hold a 20-9 advantage after 10 minutes. GCU shot 8-for-13 from the field in the opening frame, with four three-pointers, while holding UND (0-2) to 4-of-12.
 
Kacie Borowicz scored a game high 20 points to go with five steals, four assists and three rebounds. Borowicz and DJ Davis both knocked down a pair of three-pointers to pace the Fighting Hawks.
 
Kiera Pemberton put together an efficient 18-point, eight rebound performance on 7-of-9 shooting in 17 minutes off the bench.
 
The Fighting Hawks began to chip away at the GCU late in the second quarter. Back-to-back treys from Davis and Borowicz started a 13-3 NoDak run to trim the Lopes' lead to seven. Kiera Pemberton added five points during the run, including a coast-to-coast and-one. Grand Canyon, however, would score the final four points of the half to lead 39-28.
 
UND outscored the Lopes 16-9 in the final quarter of play, but GCU held the Hawks at bay. Pemberton ended the game in a flurry for the Hawks, scoring the final nine points for the green and white. The Hawks shot just under .500 percent from the field in the quarter, while holding GCU to .364 percent.
 
Grand Canyon opened the second half by extending their lead to 19 points, but the duo of Sammiyah Hoskin and Borowicz poured in the next nine NoDak points to trim the deficit to 13. The Lopes responded by taking their largest lead of the night, 22, with 1:46 left in the period.
 
North Dakota is back in the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center on Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. against Concordia College.
 
Postgame Notes 

• With 20 points tonight, Kacie Borowicz hit the 1,500 career point mark and is now 12^th all-time
• Borowicz has scored 20 or more points in both games so far this season
• Borowicz tied a career high with five steals
• GCU shot 10-of-17 from the three-point line, compared to 5-for-16 for the Fighting Hawks
• The Hawks are now 13-2 in their last 15 games at the Betty
• NoDak had the advantage in points in the paint 30-24
• Grand Canyon won the rebounding battle 30-25

How It Happened 
Q1: GCU 20, UND 9
Q2: GCU 39, UND 28
Q3: GCU 64, UND 45
Q4: GCU 73, UND 61

For more information on North Dakota women's basketball, visit FightingHawks.com or follow on social media @UNDwbasketball.