Jan. 10, 2009

Box Score

EDINBURG, Texas - Utah Valley mounted a furious second-half comeback but dropped a heartbreaker, 57-56, at Texas-Pan American on Saturday night behind 22 points from Julie McMurray and 21 from Robyn Fairbanks.

After trailing by 18 at the half, the Wolverines (6-8) outscored the Lady Broncs (9-8) 37-20 in the second half and took a 56-55 lead on a McMurray three-pointer with 43 seconds left. But Aleeya Grigsby's put back with 22 seconds to go ended up as the game-winner as UVU had a chance to win it at the buzzer but could not get a shot off in time.

Fairbanks was limited to just six minutes in the first half after picking up two quick fouls. With Fairbanks, the nation's second leader scorer, on the bench the Wolverines struggled to get the ball inside and hit just four of their final 18 shots, most of which came from the perimeter.

After McMurray converted on a three-point play after a free throw, UTPA closed the first half on an 18-3 run, capped Jessica Walker's three at the buzzer, and carried a 37-19 lead into the break.

UVU ended the half 7-for-22 (31.8 percent) from the field including 3-of-11 from the three-point line while UTPA was an even 50 percent (14-for-28) after 20 minutes. The Wolverines chipped away at the half time deficit behind a strong start to the second half by Fairbanks, who scored 11 of Utah Valley's first 13 points in the half and assisted on the other field goal.

UVU got within five, 47-42, on Blake Reynolds' bucket with 11:53 left before the Lady Broncs extended the lead back into double digits on two separate occasions, the latest coming at the 5:48 mark on two Ephiphany Smith free throws.

Fairbanks scored and McMurray hit one-of-two free throws to get it within eight before Kayla Burningam stole an outlet pass and scored to get the Wolverines within six. Two Fairbanks freebies and a McMurray bucket made it 55-53 with 1:09 left before McMurray's go-ahead three.

The Wolverines were outrebounded 35-30, including 14-9 on the offensive glass and it was Grigsby, who picked up five offensive boards, who did the most damage, scoring after Teshay Winfrey's missed layup to give Texas-Pan American the win. Grigsby finished with a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds

After the miserable-shooting first half, Utah Valley hit 50 percent in the second half and finished the game at 41.7 percent (20-for-48). UTPA, which shot 39.6 percent (21-for-53) for the game, made a concerted effort to work the clock offensively, holding the typically high-scoring Wolverines to 20 points below their season average and a season-low 56 points.

Sandy Wall played all 40 minutes for UVU while Fairbanks, Nakayama and McMurray played all 20 minutes in the second half.

Utah Valley will be back on the court on Tuesday when they host Southern Utah at 7 p.m.