PHOENIX (Interstat) — In a game defined by offensive struggles and a decisive rebounding disparity, the Grand Canyon women’s basketball team secured its first victory of the season, defeating SMU 76-60 on Tuesday night at Grand Canyon University Arena.

The Antelopes, who entered the contest with four consecutive losses, used a dominant third-quarter run to pull away from the Mustangs for good. After taking a 34-24 lead into halftime, Grand Canyon outscored SMU 23-17 in the pivotal third period to build an insurmountable 57-41 advantage heading into the final frame.

The contest was a tale of two offenses operating at vastly different levels of efficiency. While both teams had nearly identical field goal attempts, Grand Canyon’s ability to capitalize from beyond the arc and at the free-throw line proved to be the difference. The Antelopes connected on seven three-pointers compared to just one for the Mustangs, and Grand Canyon outscored SMU by 16 points from the charity stripe, making 21 of 26 attempts while the Mustangs converted only 13 of 23.

Grand Canyon’s control of the glass was another critical factor, as they hauled in 16 offensive rebounds, doubling SMU’s total of eight. This led to numerous second-chance opportunities and helped offset a turnover-prone performance in which the Antelopes committed 22 giveaways.

SMU guard Zahra King, a sophomore from Brooklyn, New York, was a bright spot in the loss, leading all scorers with 19 points. She also added a block and a steal in 27 minutes of action. Paulina Paris, a guard from Congers, New York, contributed 12 points for the Mustangs.

The Antelopes’ attack was more balanced, led by Ale’Jah Douglas. The guard from Omaha, Nebraska, poured in 16 points and dished out two assists. She was supported by Chloe Mann of Fort Worth, Texas, who scored 15 points, and Ines Zounia of Lille, France, who came off the bench to add 10 points.

Despite forcing those 22 Grand Canyon turnovers, SMU could not overcome its own shooting woes. The Mustangs finished the game shooting just 35.4 percent from the floor and a dismal 5.9 percent from three-point range. Their offensive rating of 73.2 points per 100 possessions paled in comparison to Grand Canyon’s mark of 95.8.

The loss drops SMU to 1-3 on the young season, while Grand Canyon improves to 1-4. The Antelopes will look to build on the victory when they face California on November 24 in Frisco, Texas. SMU returns home to Moody Coliseum to host North Texas on Saturday.