Dec. 1, 2010
Box Score
OREM, Utah - Utah Valley did all it could to overcome a 20-point second half deficit against in-state rival Utah State at the UCCU Center Wednesday night but the deficit was too large as the Wolverines (1-5) fell 80-66.
"We dug ourselves in too big of a hole," UVU head coach Cathy Nixon said. "We really do some great things when we're all clicking and all focusing on the process. I think we are a pretty good basketball team when we are motivated but we are not good enough to turn it on and off when we want. If we compete for all 40 minutes we will be successful."
UVU freshmen Whitney Jenkins and Kali Roche both had career nights in the loss for the Wolverines as Jenkins scored 19 points and Roche added 16. Jenkins scored her team-high 19 with near perfect shooting as she went 7-8 from the field and a perfect 4-4 from behind the arc.
The game was close in the early stages as UVU was down by just one at 14-13 with 13:10 to play in the opening half following a layup from freshman Kim Bell. Utah State (3-4) then went on an 11-2 run to take a 26-15 lead midway through the first half on a made layup from Stacey Howard.
The Aggies maintained their lead as they took a 15-point advantage into the break at 43-28.
USU scored the first two buckets of the second half to go up 19 at 47-28. The Aggies then took their largest lead of the game at 68-46 with 6:26 to play.
The Wolverines didn't quit however as they began their late comeback attempt. Jenkins started the run as she converted an and-one layup with 5:48 left to cut the deficit to 19. Following a USU turnover, Jenkins drilled a 3-ball to cut the game to 68-52 with 5:37 to go.
UVU sophomore Sammie Jensen got the score within 10 at 74-64 with 55 seconds to play after she drove the lane and converted another three-point play for the Wolverines. That's as close as UVU would get it though as Utah State converted its free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.
The Aggies had three players reach double figures as Ashlee Brown led the way with 20, Banna Diop added 11 and Devyn Christensen 10. USU shot 61-percent from the floor for the game to UVU's 48-percent.
Behind Jenkins and Roche's stellar play UVU junior Abbie Beutler had a nice game as the point guard scored eight points and dished out seven dimes.
The Wolverines will return to action this Saturday when they travel to Pocatello to play at Idaho State. UVU will then come home to host the cross-town rival BYU Cougars on Dec. 9.
