OREM, Utah - Robyn Fairbanks dominated the inside while Sandy Marvin took care of the outside game as Utah Valley State women's basketball cruised to an 83-74 victory over Idaho State Thursday night.
The victory was the Wolverines third in their past four games, improving their record to 5-9 overall. The Bengals fall to 5-8 with the loss. The fifth victory of the season surpasses Utah Valley's total of four from last year.
"Anytime you can get a win against a quality opponent like Idaho State we feel good about ourselves," Utah Valley head coach Cathy Nixon said.
Fairbanks led Utah Valley State with 26 points and 12 rebounds. Marvin added 21 while Holly Beaman scored 11 while dishing out seven assists and grabbing six rebounds.
Utah Valley started hot, hitting three of its first four three-pointers—including two by Beaman—jumping to an early 15-7 lead just four minutes into the game. Fairbanks added six quick points in the early going. Two minutes later, the Wolverines opened up their first double-digit lead at 19-9. Nixon said that rebounding and defense were key in the victory as Utah Valley out rebounded ISU 46-21.
"What really stands out to me was our defense and rebounding," she said. " Idaho State shoots the ball well and we knew we couldn't give them more than one shot."
Idaho State responded with a 9-5 run to cut the lead in half with 9:18 remain in the first half. The Bengals got 14 of their first 18 points from the tandem of Andrea Lightfoot and Natalie Doma.
After the two teams played evenly for six minutes, Idaho State closed the first half on another run, taking its first lead of the game, 39-37 on a layup as time expired.
The see-saw battle continued in the second frame, with both teams getting big play from their respective post players. Fairbanks led the Wolverines while Doma had the answer for the Bengals. Fairbanks nailed a three to give Utah Valley a 55-52 lead with 11 minutes remaining.
After sitting much of the first half with two fouls, Marvin paced Utah Valley State late in the game, leading the Wolverines with 16 points in the second half.
"I was frustrated in the first because I knew I could help our team," she said. "In the second half we knew what we needed to do to get the win."
The Wolverines extended their lead to four points with seven minutes remaining. Then Utah Valley State went on a 7-2 run over the next 90 seconds to extend its lead. The Wolverines never relinquished that lead, holding on for the last five minutes for the victory.
Lightfoot led the Bengals with 27 while Doma added 23 in the losing effort. Miriam Palkki had nine points and eight rebounds while Rebekah Peterson had six points and six rebounds off the bench.
"We are all working together really well," Fairbanks said. "Everyday we are getting better."
Utah Valley continues its home stand when it welcomes in-state foe Weber State Saturday evening at the 7:00 p.m. The game will be played at the Activity Center.
