OREM, Utah – In spite of a game-high 20 points from senior guard Mariah Seals and 18-points and career-high seven steals from senior guard Taylor Christensen, Utah Valley suffered its first home defeat of the season to Idaho State, 70-58, Saturday inside Lockhart Arena.
 
Seals, who also tallied a season-best seven assists, paired with Taylor Christensen's offensive output to give the UVU (4-7) senior duo its second 30-point effort in as many games and more than half the squad's scoring. However, the Bengals (10-3) received a 12-point, 13-rebound, 11-assist triple double from junior guard Grace Kenyon and finished with assists on each of their 27 field goals on the day to end the four-game Wolverine home win streak.
 
"We had our work cut out for us today and tip our hats to Idaho State," said Utah Valley head coach Cathy Nixon. "They're a good team, came in and followed their gameplan and we weren't ready to go. I thought the first quarter kind of defined us where they shot 73 percent. Hopefully this will be a lesson for us that we have to be ready for anybody on our schedule."
 
After a pair of Kenyon free throws extended ISU's lead to 13 at the start of second quarter, the Wolverines pushed back with a 7-2 scoring spurt behind by five points and back-to-back baskets from Seals. Following Christensen's first of her game-high eight made free throws, Seals added a step-back three-pointer from up top and turned the first of Christensen's school-record matching seven steals into a fastbreak layup to cut the deficit to 25-17.
 
During that burst, UVU clamped down on the Bengals' 73-percent first-quarter shooting clip with three stops on the first five ISU offensive possessions over its run that spanned two minutes and 29 seconds. Behind their stingy defense in the early part of the period, the Wolverines recorded three of their game-high 14 forced turnovers after junior guard Britta Spencer and sophomore center Harvey joined Christensen with one steal apiece.
 
Christensen guided another run by the Wolverines as she scored four of the next five points for UVU to keep the squad within eight of ISU, 30-22, for its lowest deficit the rest of the way. An and-one conversion and another free throw by Christensen along with a make from the charity stripe by Seals, pulled UVU to within single digits and helped the duo finish with all 12 of the squad's points in the period.
 
ISU grabbed its first double-digit lead with a 13-2 run over the final 4:57 of the opening period to head into the second with a 23-10 advantage over the Wolverines. Kenyon and Sai Tapasa teamed for 12 of the Idaho States points in the quarter, en route to three double-digit scorers for their squad on the day.
 
Facing a 20-point deficit in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, the Wolverines made a late 16-9 push sparked by 14 combined points for Seals and Christensen that brought the squad within 68-56 of ISU. The final UVU comeback attempt included a layup and two three-pointers by Seals and another bucket inside from Christensen, along with four free throws from its senior floor leaders.
 
Behind Christensen's fourth game with at least four steals in her last five outings, UVU's 11 steals marked the fifth time in six games it finished with double-digit steals. The Wolverines also finished with only eight turnovers compared to 14 for Bengals to claim their seventh turnover battle victory this season.
 
Meanwhile, Seals' season-best total in dimes helped her finish with three or more steals for the sixth game in a row.
 
In addition, Utah Valley saw the debut of sophomore transfer Alexis Cortez against the Bengals on the day. Cortez finished with a line of four points, including one three-pointer, along with two rebounds and a made free throw in her first game donning a Wolverine uniform.
 
Outside of Kenyon's double-digit game, Tapasa added a team-high 16 points and sophomore guard Estefania Ors rounded out the double-digit scoring trio for ISU with 15 points.
 
The Wolverines will next play their fourth straight home contest when it hosts Cal Poly on Tuesday, Dec. 19. Tip-off against the Mustangs is slated for 3 p.m. MT.