Opponent: Texas-Pan American
Date: January 17, 2006
Location: Orem, Utah (McKay Center)
Time: 7:05pm MST

Opponent: Nevada
Date: January 19, 2006
Location: Reno, Nevada (Lawlor Events Center)
Time: 8:00pm MST

This Week's Action ...
Utah Valley State (6-10) is fully rested following a week off after blowing by Portland State last Tuesday, 86-60, in its biggest win of the season.

The Wolverines will take on their first fellow Independent team Tuesday when Texas-Pan American (4-13) comes to town before traveling to Reno to take on WAC opponent Nevada (3-12).

Utah Valley beat Pan American last March in the McKay Center in the Independent Championships and holds a 1-0 advantage all-time between the two teams. The two squads will meet again when UV finishes off its 2005-06 season on March 4th at Texas-Pan American.

The game against Nevada is the 1st meeting ever between the two clubs. It will be the 4th WAC opponent of the season for Utah Valley, who has gone 1-3 in those contests.

The Wolverines have won 4-of-6 post Christmas and have won 4-of-5 at home. Of those five home games, the one loss came to Weber State in a game that was played in the Activity Center. Meaning the Wolverines currently have a four game McKay Center winning streak.

Back-to-Back Award Sweeps ...
Utah Valley State swept the Division-I Independent Awards two weeks in a row after Robyn Fairbanks earned Player of the Week and Hollie Beaman earned Newcomer of the Week honors on January 10th.

On January 3rd, Miriam Palkki took home top honors while Fairbanks won the newcomer award.

Fairbanks leads the team in scoring (17.4) and rebounding (8.8) and is second among all D-I Independents in scoring and first in rebounding.

Last Time Out ...
Robyn Fairbanks scored 19 points while Susie Cornejo provided a big spark off of the bench with 16 points as Utah Valley State ran away from Portland State 86-60.

Utah Valley led for most of the night but could not shake the Vikings until Cornejo scored six quick points to give Utah Valley a 71-53 lead with 5:51 remaining. UV eventually pushed the run to 11-0 after Sandy Marvin scored the five straight, putting the Wolverines up by 23 points.

"I really was pleased in the second half with how we controlled the tempo," said Utah Valley coach Cathy Nixon. "I'm really really happy with the kids and how we supported each other."

Fairbanks scored 10 points in the first three and a half minutes of the game, finishing the first half with 17 before running into foul trouble in the second.

"Robyn at the beginning of the game was just phenomenal," said Nixon. "The way she asserted herself was outstanding."

Cornejo's 16 points was a new career high for the sophomore from Idaho, hitting 6-of-8 from the floor. Her previous high was 12 against Idaho on December 8th.

"It was all teamwork," said a humble Cornejo. "Hearing my teammates cheer for each other, believing in each other was the big thing."

"She has such good athleticism," said Nixon. "It's fun to see hard work pay off for her. I thought she made a real significant contribution."

Sandy Marvin scored 15 points for Wolverines, on 7-of-11 shooting, and also picked up three steals while Hollie Beaman had eight points and eight assists and Miriam Pallki pulled down nine boards for UV.

Scouting the Opposition ...
Texas-Pan American is coming off of a 72-52 loss at Northern Colorado on Sunday, moving the Broncs to 4-13 on the season. The game against Utah Valley will the fourth and final game of a road swing for the Broncs, who are 0-9 on the road this season.

They are led in scoring by Domanique Montague and Teshay Winfrey, who both average 9.3 points per game.

Nevada is 3-12 after a 58-50 loss at Boise State on Saturday. The Wolfpack are 3-4 at home going into Thursday's contest, while UV is still winless on the road at 0-5.

Nevada is 0-4 so far in WAC play. The team is led in scoring by Brandi Fitzgerald's 10.4 points per game. Jessica Preslar leads the Wolfpack with a 5.7 rebounds per game average.

Up Next ...
The Wolverines head to Southern California next week for games against Cal State Fullerton and UC Riverside. UV will play both schools for the first time ever beginning on Thursday at 8:00pm MST at Fullerton. Saturday, the Wolverines will take on UC Riverside at 5:05pm MST.