Dec. 9, 2006
Box Score
Ogden, Utah - Robyn Fairbanks had another big game, scoring 32 points as Utah Valley State increased its school record win streak to seven games with a 68-60 win at Weber State on Saturday.
"We're just thrilled to be able to come out with a win because Weber's a good team," said head coach Cathy Nixon. "Robyn is just a special player. I'm really proud of the way the kids build around her and get her the ball. It's fun to coach a team that's willing to work hard."
Utah Valley (9-1) continued its school record start as well and improved to 2-0 on the road after winning just once on the road in the school's first three NCAA seasons.
"I think we have more confidence in each other as a team," said Fairbanks. "Our chemistry's just so good on and off the court that I think it just carries over."
Fairbanks came into the game second in the nation in scoring an upped her average to 24.1 points after shooting 14-for-20 from the field. Sandy Marvin scored 21 for the Wolverines as the two sophomores combined to score 53 of UV's 68 points.
Weber State (4-5) was led in scoring by Sara Tuomi's 18 points and Chelsey Warburton's 13. The Wildcats won the rebounding battle 40-28 but that stat was offset by the Wolverines turning the ball over a season low nine times compared to 19 for Weber.
Utah Valley had 11 steals on the night with four coming from Asumi Nakayama.
Early on, after the Wolverines jumped out to a 9-5 lead, the Wildcats reeled of seven straight points to take a 12-9 lead. UV used a mini 5-0 run to take a 25-19 lead, the biggest advantage for either team in the opening half that featured eight ties and five lead changes.
Fairbanks and Marvin carried the Wolverines offensively in the first half. Fairbanks had 16 points on 8-for-10 shooting while Marvin had 11 points.
The second remained tight with the Wolverines seemingly answering every run Weber State threw at them. The game was tied in the second half on two occasions but Utah Valley never trailed. After WSU's Tashina Taylor knotted the game at 50 with 9:50 remaining, Fairbanks came right back with a lay up to give UV a lead it wouldn't relinquish.
The Wildcats crept back within two points on two occasions after that, but Fairbanks stretched the lead back to four with 4:53 remaining with two free throws. Marvin pushed the lead to seven with a steal and a breakaway lay up with 4:15 left.
Tuomi answered back with a jumper to cut it to five with 3:50 left, but neither team scored again until Ashley Grimm scored on a no-look assist from Fairbanks with 1:35 to go.
Grimm had six second half points for the Wolverines while Rebekah Peterson had five points and four rebounds off the bench.
Utah Valley assured itself a winning record against in-state schools this season, improving to 3-1.
The Wolverines won't play again until next Saturday at 3:05pm when neighbor BYU comes to the McKay Center.
