Jan. 6, 2010

Box Score

SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah Valley dropped its final game before heading into the conference season, falling 65-30 at Utah on Wednesday night in the Huntsman Center.

The Wolverines (3-13) will now prep for Chicago State and Saturday's match up in what will be the first-ever Great West Conference basketball game. Tip is at 4:30 p.m. in the McKay Center.

On Wednesday though, UVU suffered through several offensive cold spells and finished just 22.8 percent (13-for-57) from the field including just 1-for-14 from the 3-point line.

Jenna Johnson led the Wolverines with 12 points while Julie Smith played 20 minutes in her return and scored nine. Kaycee Mansfield finished with four points and matched a career high with two blocks.

Utah, which shot 43.9 percent for the game, was led by freshman Taryn Wicijowski's 16 points. Kalee Whipple had 11, all in the decisive first half that saw the Utes (9-4) run out to a 39-13 lead by the break.

A Johnson jumper at the 16:30 mark cut an early Utah lead to one, 7-6, before Utah used a 17-2 run to take a 24-8 lead. Over a nearly 10-minute span Utah Valley scored just two points, until Smith ended the drought with a layup with 6:52 left in the half.

Utah has now won five straight overall and owns a 3-0 lead in the all-time series. Utah Valley's loss is its eighth in a row.

Saturday's contest with Chicago State will be part of a doubleheader with the Utah Valley men also hosting CSU. It will also be Hometown Heroes night for senior Julie Smith, who hails from Cardston, Alberta. Anyone from Canada can get into the game for just $1 while anyone from Cardston will get in for free.