Nov. 4, 2009

Box Score

OREM, Utah - Julie Smith scored 18 of her game-high 23 points in the second half, including eight during a 13-0 run as Utah Valley topped Montana Tech, 69-54, in an exhibition game on Wednesday at the McKay Center.

With the Wolverines nursing a 51-49 lead with 6:22 remaining, Smith started the run with a 3-point play on a layup and free-throw. Kaycee Mansfield followed with a bucket before a Kayla Burningham three on a Smith assist gave UVU a 10-point lead.

Smith then notched one of her three steals and scored an acrobatic reverse layup and was fouled for another 3-point opportunity. After the free-throw she capped the run with a jumper to make it 64-49 with 1:59 to go.

"We all know Julie's capable of that if we can get her the ball in situations where she can go to work," said head coach Cathy Nixon. "The main thing was when we were playing the game at our pace and our speed and not hurting ourselves. This team is one that's going to have to play good team basketball on both ends of the floor and good things will happen for us."

Mansfield, one of six freshmen on the roster, had 13 of her 14 points in the second half and scored seven straight to erase a three-point Montana Tech lead just minutes before the decisive run.

Burningham finished with 11 points and six assists while Jenna Johnson scored eight point in 14 minutes off the bench. Smith played 39 minutes and also had a game-high nine rebounds. The Orediggers were led by Jessica DePell's 21 points.

The Wolverines shot 46.2 percent for the game including 53.8 percent in the second half compared to 39.2 percent for Montana Tech. UVU out-rebounded the Orediggers 39-28.

Utah Valley opens the 2009-10 regular season at BYU on Friday, Nov. 13 at 3:30 p.m. The Wolverines home-opener is the following day against Mesa State at 3:05 p.m.