Jan. 15, 2011
Box Score
OREM, Utah - Junior Jenna Johnson matched a career-high of 29 points to help lead the UVU women's basketball past Seattle University 74-64 at the UCCU Center Saturday afternoon. The win snapped a 10-game losing streak for the Wolverines (2-14).
Sophomore Sammie Jensen also had a career high of 21 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Also in double figures for UVU (2-14) was freshman Kim Bell who contributed 10 points.
"Probably more than their performance in the game I'm proud of their consistent effort in practice," said UVU head coach Cathy Nixon. "Their effort in practice is what translated into a win for them today."
The week off seemed to do the trick for the Wolverines in the early going. They jumped out to a 14-2 lead over the first six minutes of the game thanks to a pair of three-point baskets from Jensen and Johnson.
The Redhawks (5-13) came back with a run of their own and took the lead from UVU at the 8:50 mark of the first half after a Wolverine turnover led to a fast break layup.
UVU had to weather an onslaught of Seattle three-pointers and layups, but was able to regain its lead, 26-25, when sophomore Kyra Prause hit an open layup on a crisp pass from Jensen with 5:45 to play until the break.
A few seconds before halftime, Jensen set a high screen for junior Abbie Beutler and then popped out for a straightaway three-point shot that she hit right before the buzzer. The basket gave the Wolverines a 37-32 lead heading into halftime.
Taking advantage of the Redhawk's first half foul trouble, the Wolverines shot 11-12 from the stripe compared to 2-5 shooting from Seattle.
Holding Seattle off in the second half was no small task for UVU. The Wolverines were able to keep the Redhawks from gaining a lead, but never put the game out of reach. With 10:49 left in the game, Johnson hit a long two-point jumper to send UVU out in front 51-44.
The Redhawks would make a pair of free throws before Johnson would strike again with back-to-back three-pointers to extend the lead to 58-46.
Seattle spent the next six minutes cutting into the Wolverine lead with an 11-4 run and only trailed by five with 3:42 remaining in the game.
Johnson then sealed the game with one of her five three-pointers with only 44 seconds left on the clock to put the Wolverines up by 13. From that point on UVU made its free throws to finish out the 74-64 victory.
The win was the second on the season for the Wolverines, who seemed to find their confidence and rhythm during the game.
"They went on their runs but I thought that we stayed with a calm composure," added Nixon. "We had a couple little skids, but we didn't have our big five or six minute ones."
The game marked the final non-conference contest of the season for UVU.
The Wolverines (0-1 GWC) will return to conference play on Thursday, Jan. 20 at 5:00 p.m. MT in Grand Forks, N.D. for a matchup North Dakota, last year's regular-season GWC Champs. The team will stay in the Dakotas for a Saturday game versus South Dakota at 5:00 p.m. MT in Vermillion, S.D.
