Nov. 14, 2008
Box Score
OREM, Utah - Despite a big night from Robyn Fairbanks and Julie McMurray, the Utah Valley women's basketball team dropped its season opener, 94-71, to Montana State on Friday night in Orem.
Fairbanks had 31 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks, and McMurray added 25 as the Canadian duo combined for 55 of the Wolverines' (0-1) 71 points.
The Bobcats (1-0) scored 55 second half points after holding a five-point lead at halftime to stop Utah Valley's 15-game winning streak inside The McKay Center.
"It's unacceptable to give up 94 points. Not here at home, not on the road," said head coach Cathy Nixon. "I've got to dig down into those kids and get them to work harder. Montana State is a very good basketball team, they played well. But we absolutely did not defensively do what we needed to do."
Montana State used a 36-17 run over a 10-minute span of the second half, turning a one point MSU lead into an 86-66 edge with just over three minutes remaining.
Fairbanks hit 12-of-21 from the field and 7-for-10 from the free-throw line for her 13th career 30 point game and 33rd career double-double. The senior finished fourth among Division I players in 2007-08 with 23.8 points per game.
MSU got a balanced scoring attack with six players in double figures led by 15 apiece from Erica Perry and Sarah Strand. Former Mountain View High School (Orem) star Nubia Garcia had 14 points and nine rebounds while Jenny Heringer and a double-double with 12 points and 11 boards.
In the opening half, the Bobcats used a 10-0 run on field goals from five different players to take a 21-12 lead at the 12:25 mark. The Wolverines came right back with 11 straight to take a two point edge, 25-23 with McMurray scoring the last seven of the run for UVU.
After McMurray hit two free throws put the Wolverines up 34-31, Montana State ended the half on an 8-0 run to take a 39-34 lead into the break.
Utah Valley will turn right around and face Division II Mesa State on Saturday at 3 p.m. before hitting the road to face Gonzaga next Wednesday in Spokane, Wash.
