Nov. 27, 2009

 

Box Score

 

BOZEMAN, Montana - Forced to play catch-up the entire second half, Utah Valley couldn't make up for a 14-point halftime deficit and fell 72-59 to Winthrop in the opening game of the Wingate Thanksgiving Classic at Montana State University.

Julie Smith led the Wolverines (2-5) with 16 points while Kayla Burningham added 12 and Blake Reynolds finished with 10. Asumi Nakayama had nine points and six assists and Erika Newbold finished with seven points and five boards for UVU, which has now lost four straight.

Winthrop pounded the glass to the tune of 21 offensive rebounds, 10 of which came from Shanice Cole and her 15 point, 14 rebound double-double. The Eagles (2-3) were able to convert 25 second chance points and had a lopsided 43-25 edge overall on the boards.

The game was tied at 14 with 12:05 left in the first half before Utah Valley went on a dry spell, scoring just three points over the next nine minutes. By that time Winthrop had taken a 31-17 lead.

After going into the half down 37-23, the Wolverines came out quickly in the second half with some renewed energy and trimmed the deficit to eight at 41-33 on two Newbold free throws. But a Shelly Hankins' three followed by a bucket and free throw by Cole extended the Eagle advantage back to 14.

Winthrop pushed the lead to 15, 60-45, with 6:49 to go before one last push by Utah Valley. Newbold converted on a 3-point play with a layup and free throw followed by consecutive baskets from Reynolds and Burningham to again trim the deficit to eight, but that's as close as the Wolverines would get.

The Eagles shot a blistering 57.1 percent from the field in the first half and 44.4 for the game while Utah Valley finished the game at 40.7 percent. The Wolverines shot just 5-for-22 (22.7 percent) from the 3-point line.

UVU will now play in the consolation game of the tournament on Saturday at 5:05 p.m. MT against in-state rival Southern Utah, which lost to Montana State, 62-43, on Friday night.