Nov. 20, 2010
Box Score
BEAUMONT, Texas - Utah Valley held a six point lead with four minutes left in its final game in the Preseason WNIT but went cold at the end and ended up losing 73-69 to Austin Peay Saturday afternoon in Beaumont, Texas.
With the loss UVU drops to 0-3 and with the win the Lady Govs improve to 1-3.
With 4:47 to play the Wolverines went up six at 64-58 on a made jumper from sophomore Sammie Jensen. UVU then went cold as Austin Peay scored 12 unanswered points down the stretch to go up 70-64 with 24 seconds left.
UVU junior Abbie Beutler did all she could in the final seconds as she scored five quick points but it was too late as the Wolverines fell by four.
"It was a game of momentum," UVU head coach Cathy Nixon said. "We had the lead towards the end but we couldn't make a shot down the stretch. We are still learning how to close games."
"I thought we did a lot of very good things. We have definitely improved during these first three NIT games and in the long run I think this experience will help us."
The Wolverines got off to a slow start but quickly bounced back as they scored six unanswered to take a 6-4 lead in the early stages. From there, the first half went back-and-forth until UVU went on a 10-2 run to go up 30-25 at the break.
Despite the loss, the Wolverines had four players finish with double figures. Jensen led UVU in the game with 19 points and nine rebounds, while Beutler added 13, freshman Kim Bell 12 and junior Jenna Johnson 10. Beutler also added a game-high eight assists.
Jasmine Rayner who put up a game-high 21 points led APSU offensively. Behind her, Dalila Thomas chipped in 19 and Whitney Hanley added 16 for the Lady Govs.
The game concluded the Preseason WNIT for Utah Valley. A champion will be crowned in the preseason tournament Sunday when Purdue and DePaul lock-heads at 12 p.m. (MT).
UVU will now come home for a four game homestand beginning Tuesday, Nov. 23, with Weber State at 7 p.m. During the stretch the Wolverines will play three in-state rivals. Southern Utah will come to the UCCU Center on Black Friday, Nov. 26, and Utah State on Dec. 1.
