Jan. 13, 2009

Box Score

OREM, Utah - Seniors Robyn Fairbanks and Sandy Wall both had big nights as Utah Valley overcame a sluggish start to pick up an easy 72-50 win over Southern Utah on Tuesday. Fairbanks had 34 points and 12 rebounds for her 40th career double-double while also taking over national lead in scoring at 24.9 points per game.

Wall finished with 19 points, four assists and three steals while another senior, Hollie Beaman, had six points, four assists and two steals as the Wolverines improved to 7-8. Wall was a perfect 5-for-5 from the three-point line and in the process became the Wolverines' all-time leader in three-point field goals made.

Anne Westwood-Higbee had 11 points and 13 rebounds for the Thunderbirds (6-10), but UVU held SUU to just 19-for-70 from the field (27.1 percent). Utah Valley hit 42.9 percent (27-for-63) from the field after starting the game just 1-of-11.

The Wolverines trailed 18-17 with 6:40 left before Fairbanks scored eight points during a 15-0 run to end the half, giving UVU at 32-18 lead as the All-American senior equaled SUU's point total after 20 minutes of action.

Southern Utah got within 11 after Dani Hosking scored on a three-point play to begin the second half, but that's as close as the game would be the rest of the way. The Wolverines quickly stretched the lead to 20 with a 9-0 spurt, extending the run that ended the first half to 24-3 over a nine minute span.

Utah Valley actually shot better from the three-point line (9-for-13) than the free-throw line (9-for-14) thanks in large part to Wall's night. The Wolverines also totaled 22 assists on the night with five players dishing out three or more.

UVU will now have a week off before hosting the University of Denver on Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. in the McKay Center.