Feb. 14, 2009
Box Score
CHICAGO, Ill. - Utah Valley used a 24-5 run to close out Chicago State and win its seventh straight, 79-66, on Saturday afternoon in the Windy City. The Wolverines (13-8) hit 54.8 percent from the field (34-of-62) and erased two double-digit deficits to earn the win.
"I think we've matured where we can withstand runs and emotionally stick together," said head coach Cathy Nixon. "Sometimes in the past we would kind of panic and get away from our game plan and I thought the kids really did focus on the process. I was proud of the way they were able to fight back and get it done."
Robyn Fairbanks led UVU with 30 points and 12 rebounds, her fifth straight double-double and 19th career 30-point game. Fairbanks, who leads the nation in scoring, upped her average to 25.9 while hitting 15-for-20 from the field. Over the last three games, Fairbanks has hit 40-of 50 (80 percent) from the field.
Julie McMurray scored 26 with 19 coming in the second half as the Wolverines won for the first time this season when trailing at the break. McMurray tied her own school record with five 3-pointers made.
Blake Reynolds had a career-high 12 points on a perfect 6-for-6 from the floor in 23 minutes. Reynolds also pulled down five rebounds on her career night playing with three stitches in her left hand.
"She (Julie) got hot at just the right time. She started being more aggressive, taking it to the basket and hitting some big shots," said Nixon. "And with Blake, I thought her presence defensively is part of what calmed us down. She does a great job communicating and as a captain and a leader she helped us to calm down right when we needed to."
Asumi Nakayama had 12 assists as Utah Valley dished out a season-high 29 on 34 made field goals. McMurray and Sandy Wall each had five assists.
Chicago State ran out to a big lead in the first half, using separate 9-0 and 13-5 runs to build a 32-17 lead with more than 10 minutes still remaining. Fairbanks and the Wolverines answered with 10 straight points, with six coming from the senior, to get back within five before entering the half down four, 41-37.
After Fairbanks scored the first two points of the second half to make it a two-point game, the Cougars (13-11) scored seven straight and eventually pushed the lead back into double digits, 52-41, on two Natalie Marlowe free throws with 15:48 left.
McMurray then went to work, scoring 15 of Utah Valley's next 20 points with her layup with 7:59 getting her team within one, 61-60.
Reynolds scored on a left-hand-layup on a Nakayama assist with 6:48 to go, giving the Wolverines their first lead since the 18:33 mark of the first half. Reynolds banked in a 15-foot jumper and McMurray followed with a three to give UVU a 67-61 lead before Courtney Waldon hit a three to keep CSU within three with just over five minutes to go.
Reynolds then got an offensive rebound and put back before Fairbanks scored seven of the game's next nine points to put Utah Valley up 75-66 with 52 seconds left.
The Wolverines won despite 19 offensive rebounds from Chicago State. The Cougars scored 12 second-chance points in the first half but were limited to just four in the second. The UVU win also evens up the all-time series at two wins apiece. The teams could face one another again at the year-end Division I Independent Championship March 5-7 in Orem, Utah.
The Wolverines' three-game road trip concludes on Tuesday in Athens, Ohio against Ohio University at 5 p.m. MT.
