March 9, 2011

Box Score

Photo Gallery

OREM, Utah -- The Utah Valley University women's basketball team began its title defense Wednesday night with a 81-65 victory over Texas-Pan American in the first round of the Great West Conference Tournament.

Sammie Jensen, who entered the game averaging 20 points and 15 rebounds in two games against UTPA this year, paced the Wolverines with her 14th double-double of the year with a career-high 24 points and a tournament-tying record 15 boards, while Kim Bell added a double-double with 19 points and a career-high 10 rebounds and Abbie Beutler added a double-double with 12 points and a career-high 13 assists to lead UVU into the semifinals.

"Sammie was excellent. She had a spring in her step and was flying around. She's a big part of what we are doing and she helped set the tone," UVU coach Cathy Nixon said. "We had four kids in double figures, so I am pleased with the overall effort."

The Wolverines, who have won three straight and six of their last eight games, won both games over UTPA during the regular season by 11.5 points per game before winning Wednesday by 16.

With the win, the No. 4-seed Wolverines advance to face No. 1-seed Chicago State at 2:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon in the UCCU Center.

"I'm pleased with the way the kids came out," Nixon said. "Our effort and execution was good enough to win."

Utah Valley hit four of its first five shots in the first four minutes to lead 10-2. Jenna Johnson, who had 10 points in the first half and 13 for the game, nailed a 3-pointer with 15:05 left in the first half to give the Wolverines their first double-digit lead at 13-2.

"It was key," Nixon said of the Wolverines' hot start. "I thought that showed our mentality more than anything. The kids were ready to go. It was good for us to come out and put some points on the board early. That gave us some confidence."

Bell, who had 12 points in the first half, scored six straight points and Johnson knocked down another 3-pointer to lift UVU, which hit 13 of its first 16 shots, to a 12-point advantage with nine minutes left in the half.

UVU, which shot 57.1 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes, increased its lead to 14 on two foul shots by Jensen; 16 on a 2-point bucket by Johnson, and a first-half high 18 on a 16-foot jumper by Kaycee Mansfield with 1:30 left in the half.

The Wolverines, who led 41-26 at the break, held the fifth-seeded Broncs (12-19) to just 32.4 percent shooting from the field in the opening half.

The Wolverines remained hot from the field by outscoring the Broncs 7-1 to open the half to take their first lead over 20 points -- 48-27 -- on a 3-pointer by Beutler with 18:20 left in the half. UVU's largest lead of the game was 23 early in the second half.

UVU shot 57.4 percent from the field for the game, while holding UTPA to 38.6 percent.

Bianca Torre led four UTPA players to score in double figures with 17 points, while Maria Erlingsdottir added 13 points.