Dec. 4, 2010
Box Score
POCATELLO, Idaho - Utah Valley started hot from the field as it led by 10 early at Idaho State Saturday afternoon but cooled off as the Bengals (5-4) downed the Wolverines (1-6) 68-56.
"I was pleased with our intensity that we came out and played with and our sense of urgency that we showed on the defensive end," UVU head coach Cathy Nixon said. "I think our energy that we played with is what kept us in the game. If we can take care of the basketball and be more consistent then we will start winning basketball games."
UVU came out looking very aggressive in the early stages as they worked an early 10-2 lead thanks to two made 3-balls from junior Abbie Beutler. The Wolverines then extended their lead to 10 in the opening half on a layup from junior Jenna Johnson to go up 14-4. During the spurt, UVU converted 6 of their first 7 shots.
Too many turnovers allowed the home Bengals to comeback however as they took their first lead of the game at 23-22 on a made Chelsea Pickering jumper with 5:57 left in the first half. From there the half went back and forth and ISU managed to take a slim one-point margin at 29-28 into the break.
When the second half began the Wolverines looked just as they did to begin the game as they scored the first five points to take a 33-29 lead on a 3-pointer from sophomore Kaycee Mansfield and a layup from freshman Kali Roche. But Idaho State came right back as they took advantage of a few Wolverine miscues to go on a 13-0 run. At the end of the run, the Bengals found themselves leading 42-33 with 15:09 to play.
Down the stretch UVU did all then could to get over the hump and complete the comeback as they got within six a couple of times but Idaho State scored when they had to as they held on to the 12-point win.
Pickeing led ISU with a game-high 20 points as they Bengals had four players finish in double figures.
Beutler finished with a UVU-high 14 points to lead the Wolverines, while Mansfield added 12. Sophomore Sammie Jensen chipped in eight points and seven boards for UVU and Roche finished right behind her with seven points and seven rebounds. Mansfield ended just one rebound shy of a double-double, as she grabbed a game-high nine.
The Wolverines outrebounded the Bengals 41 to 30 and shot an identical 36-percent from the field as ISU but 30 turnovers really hindered UVU in the game.
The Wolverines will return to action next Thursday, Dec. 9, when they host BYU at the UCCU Center. Following the game with BYU, UVU will play Southern Utah for the second time on the season as it will travel to Cedar City, for a Saturday, Dec. 11, date with the T-Birds.
