OREM, Utah—Utah Valley University dropped their third WAC contest against conference leader University of Texas-Pan American after overcoming an 18 point deficit in the second half to close the final score at 59-52.
 
UVU's (7-12, 1-2 WAC) Rhaiah Spooner-Knight led all scorers with 14 points, and Karlee Norris tied her career high and led on the boards with 14 rebounds. Norris also chipped in six points and a steal. Mariah Seals came away with 13 points while hitting the Wolverines only two shots from beyond the arc.  Utah Valley hit 34.7 percent on the night, and held the Broncs (11-8, 3-0 WAC) to 32.3 percent overall, and just 21.4 percent in the second half.
 
The Wolverines chipped away at an 18-point deficit early in the second half with 19:19 left to play. The charge was led by freshman point guard Seals, but even behind UVU's 52.6 percent shooting in the second half, Utah Valley would only get within seven before time expired. 
 
"It's not easy to be down 18 and try to dig ourselves out of a hole," head coach Cathy Nixon said. "The frustrating part is that we missed enough free throws to win the game. As ineffective and uninspired as we played, I still thought the game was within reach. These young kids struggled taking care of the basketball, and hopefully we will learn from that and put together a better game on Saturday."
 
Utah Valley went on a 6-0 run in the first half started by Georgia Agnew with a layup with 15:34 remaining.  Mariah Seals hit a corner trey to put the Wolverines up 12-10, but the Broncs retaliated with a 6-0 spurt of their own to take a 16-12 lead.
 
Midway through the first half Spooner-Knight was hacked on her way to the basket and converted a three-point play to pull UVU to a four-point deficit, 24-20. Texas-Pan American then closed the half on a 15-2 run to take a 39-22 lead at the break.        
 
Texas-Pan American's Cha'zaye Wright and Rickell Preston both led the Broncs in scoring with 12, while Cherrell Price and Brittany Bush each added eight.  Preston led UTPA on the boards with nine.
 
The Wolverines continue to play at home taking on New Mexico State on Saturday Jan. 24 in the UCCU Center at 3 p.m. MT.