OREM, Utah - On paper, Fresno State should have been the victor. After all they were picked to finish 2nd in the WAC this year and are coming off of a year that sent them to the WNIT and included a big win over Utah Valley State. But Saturday night, the Utah Valley women proved why they play the game, upsetting the Bulldogs 72-64 led by Rebekah Fales' 17 points.

"It feels really good. For a Division-I win this is the biggest win we've had. Fresno State's a very good team," said Utah Valley State head coach Cathy Nixon. "We've been telling the kids that on any given night any team can beat somebody. With the situation we're in we basically have to take each game like it's a championship game."

The Wolverines closed out the game on a 10-2 run over the final 2:35, with eight of the points coming from the free throw line.

The entire second half was nip and tuck with neither team leading by more than five. Utah Valley was up 54-49 with 7:27 to go when Fresno went on a quick 7-0 run to regain the lead. The teams traded buckets until a reverse lay up by Ashley Grimm put UV up 64-62 with 1:47 to and gave the Wolverines the lead for good.

The lead was at four with :33 seconds left when Fales made the defensive play of the game, going around All-WAC performer Amy Parrish and stealing a pass from Paige Diggs. After the steal Fales was fouled and sank both free-throws. She finished the game with a game high four steals.

Fales' 17 points led all scorers while Parrish had a impressive double double of 15 points and 18 rebounds. Sandy Marvin had her third straight double figure scoring night, with 13 points while Miriam Palkki scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

Fales was scoreless until the :58 second mark of the 1st half when she hit a jumper and followed that up with a three-pointer with just :03 seconds to go to give the Wolverines a one point lead. In the second half, what was lost confidence seemed to return as she scored 12 points in the half.

"With my shooter's mentality I just kept shooting and after I made those shots at the end of the half my confidence was so much more high," said Fales.

"She just went into there tonight and just played," said Nixon. "She stepped up and made some big shots and gave us that momentum heading into the half."

Both teams struggled offensively in the first half as Fresno shot just 27% compared to 29% for the Wolverines. But in the second both team picked it up offensively. The Bulldogs won the battle of the boards 58-37 with 23 of their boards on the offensive end.

A big difference for Utah Valley State was their opportunities at the foul line. At the half both teams shot eight free-throws, but in the second the Wolverines went to the line 22 times, compared to just five for Fresno.

With the win Utah Valley picks up its first win of the season, moving to 1-2 while Fresno drops to 2-2.

The Wolverines will next host Westminster on Tuesday at 7:05pm. The game against the NAIA school will be the first of three games next week. On Thursday they will travel to Boise State followed by a home game against Oregon State on Saturday at 4:30. The game with Oregon State is part of a doubleheader as the Wolverine men host Sacramento State at 7:05pm that same night.