OREM, Utah—The Utah Valley University women's basketball team fell to Eastern Washington 68-62 in its regular season opener Friday evening at the UCCU Center.
 
Sophomore forward Rhaiah Spooner-Knight led the Wolverines with a game-high 20 points as she connected on 9-of-18 shots from the field. She also pulled down six rebounds and dished out a pair of assists in the setback. Spooner-Knight set new career highs with 9 field goals made and 18 field goals attempted. 
 
Karlee Norris, a sophomore forward, pulled down 12 boards, put up nine points and banked a steal. Freshman Taylor Gordon scored 11 points, while junior Sam Loggins recorded nine rebounds.
 
"It's never satisfying to lose a game," said head coach Cathy Nixon. "But in terms of our team getting better, we are a much better team than we were a week ago. We've had some good practices and have made some changes. Eastern Washington is a good team; when the game was on the line they went on the attack and we went on our heels."
 
Utah Valley took a quick 9-3 lead to open the game and then extended it to a nine point lead at 22-13. The Eagles then went on a 7-0 run. Eastern Washington continued to pressure Utah Valley for the remainder of the first half, closing it to 35-34 in favor of Utah Valley at the break.  
 
The Eagles kept up the fight in the second half and eventually took an eight point lead, 49-41, halfway through the second half. The Wolverines fought back with a 5-0 run, which would be the closest the score would get for the remainder of the game. Eastern Washington retaliated and went on a 9-2 run late in the second sealing their win.
 
Eastern Washington's Melissa Williams led the Eagles with 18 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks and two steals.
 
The Wolverines will play Bristol University on Saturday Nov. 15 at 3 p.m. at home.