OREM, Utah – Utah Valley University couldn't overcome a slow start from the field and fell 66-53 to WAC-leading New Mexico State on Thursday in Lockhart Arena. The win for the Aggies (20-6, 12-0) clinches at least a share of the WAC regular season title.
 
Taylor Gordon led the Wolverines (8-19, 3-9) with 14 points while Sariah Wi Neera scored 10 points and grabbed a career high 10 rebounds off the bench, notching her first double-double.
 
"We had moments where we were really good but we weren't united enough collectively for 40 minutes, especially to beat a team like that," said UVU head coach Cathy Nixon. "I thought we handled their press pretty well and we were able to force 19 turnovers and had 18 offensive rebounds, so we did do some good things tonight."
 
Zaire Williams led New Mexico State with 17 points, hitting 6-of-8 from the field including five of her seven attempts from three. Three other Aggies joined Williams in double figures including Moriah Mack, who finished with 14.
 
After struggling from the field in the opening quarter, the Wolverines found themselves down 22-6 early in the second. UVU clawed back though, going on a 15-2 run that included 10 straight points to get within three, 24-21.
 
Wi Neera and Keana Delos Santos both scored five points during the run with Britta Hall's 3-pointer with 5:51 left before the half capping the run. The deficit was four, 27-23, when the Aggies closed the half with five straight. Mack's jumper from just beyond the free throw line beat the buzzer and made it 32-23 at the break.
 
In the third, New Mexico State pulled away, stretching the lead to as much as 17 late in the quarter before Taylor Gordon hit a jumper with 13 seconds left. The Aggies led 51-36 after three.
 
Utah Valley got within 12, 53-41, on a pair of Jordan Holland foul shots but a quick 6-0 New Mexico State spurt made it 59-41 with 6:03 remaining. Holland hit a three with 2:56 to go to get UVU within 13, 64-51, but the Wolverines couldn't get closer.
 
The Wolverines scored 21 second chance points off of their 18 offensive rebounds. New Mexico State had a 36-34 overall on the glass. UVU finished with 12 steals as part of the Aggies' 19 turnovers while turning it over just 12 times.
 
New Mexico State had a big edge from the field, hitting 52.8 percent (28-for-53) compared to 32.8 percent (19-for-58) for Utah Valley.
 
The Wolverines will play their final home game of the season on Saturday at 3 p.m. MT against the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.