Box Score : Cumulative Stats
OREM, Utah - Saturday night was a passing of the torch of sorts for the Utah Valley State women's basketball team as they finished the 2004-05 season with a 57-46 win over Texas-Pan American.
Seniors Courtney Lynn and Katie Wilson finished their careers and freshman Rebekah Fales showed that a successful one has officially begun as all three carried the the Wolverines down the stretch.
The win gives Utah Valley the third place finish in the Division-I Independent women's tournament and a two-game win streak to end the year.
“I told the girls in the locker room that I thought that this tournament illustrated how our team has been throughout the year,” said Coach Cathy Nixon. “Every time we've had a setback these kids have really showed a lot of character and have come back and competed. I'm really happy for Katie and Courtney that they could go out the way they did.”
Fales finished with 18 points and eight rebounds and was named to the all-tournament team after finishing third in scoring at 13.7ppg. She tied teammate Katie Wilson for third in rebounding at 7.3rpg.
“I love her intensity and commitment and drive to get the basketball,” said Nixon of Fales. “For a freshman to come along so quickly it's exciting and I think there are a lot of bright things in the future for the program.”
With the game tied at 43 with just over 5:54 to go, a Fales three-pointer started a 14-3 run to finish the game. Courtney Lynn finished the game with seven points and five rebounds, and finished her career as the Wolverines' all-time assist leader.
“I'm gonna miss my teammates,” said Courtney Lynn. “I love every single one of them and I'll miss them more than anything.”
Wilson scored 10 points and pulled down five rebounds in the final game of her career and is Utah Valley State's all-time rebounds leader.
“Someone told me not to cry because it's over, but to smile because it happened,” said Wilson. "I'm just happy to be a part of it. My best friends are on the team, so I'll take away a lot of good memories.”
Dominique Montague scored 12 points to lead Pan American and was named to the all-tournament team.
In the fifth place game, IPFW beat Savannah State 60-54. Verea Bibbs had 14 points and 12 rebounds for IPFW while Shamice James scored 21 points and pulled down 12 rebounds as both players were named to the all-tournament team.
In the championship game, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi got off to a big lead by half time and held off a late charge by Northern Colorado to win 62-42. Kayla Flavin and Danielle Hagen were named to the all-tournament team for Northern Colorado, while Terra Andrews and Kirbria Lewis were Corpus Christi's all tournament players. Lewis was named the tournament MVP as she and her teammates await a possible WNIT bid.
