EDINBURG, Texas – Jordan Holland's layup hit the back iron and dropped through as time expired and Utah Valley University remained unbeaten in WAC play with a 57-55 win at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on Thursday night.
 
Holland, who scored eight of her game-high 19 points in the fourth quarter, took a lob from Alexis Cortez into the paint and got it to drop, giving the Wolverines (10-7, 4-0 WAC) their second straight road win and fourth straight overall as they continue their best start in WAC play.
 
"I'm really proud of the way our team has banded together. To win on the road you have to have a mental and physical toughness," said UVU head coach Cathy Nixon. "Every point is as important as the next one but that last bucket by Jordan came on a great pass by Alexis. I really love our mentality right now. We're laser-focused on our goal and I'm grateful to be able to get a win on the road against a good UTRGV team."
 
Holland had tied it seconds earlier on two free-throws before a turnover gave Utah Valley the ball with just 1.1 seconds remaining. Following a timeout from both teams, Holland delivered the game-winner.
 
Cortez, who delivered the most important assist of the night, finished with 17 points on 6-for-10 from the floor including four 3-pointers. Josie Williams added 10 points while Holland grabbed eight rebounds and nabbed five steals, and Maria Carvalho dished out six assists.
 
Utah Valley led 53-49 with two minutes to go after a Holland hit two foul shots, but the Vaqueros (8-9, 2-2 WAC) hit back-to-back 3-pointers to take the lead. Idil Turk made it 53-52 with 1:44 left and Nichele Hyman gave UTRGV a 55-53 lead with 46 seconds left. Holland's game-tying free throws came with 18 seconds to go.
 
Hyman had 13 points to lead UTRGV while Madison Northcutt had a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
 
UTRGV scored the first seven points of the game and later led 15-7 after Turk hit the team's third 3-pointer of the quarter. Cortez hit a three from the corner and then, with less than a minute to go, Williams scored in the post to make it a 15-12 game after one.
 
In the second, Utah Valley trailed 21-16 when the Vaqueros ran off six straight to take a 27-16 lead. Hyman connected on her second three of the quarter – and her team's sixth of the game – to give UTRGV its largest lead of the game.
 
UVU made a run though, finishing the half on a 12-2 spurt to get within one, 29-28, at the break. In a finish that mirrored the opening quarter, Cortez hit her second three of the half and Williams scored in the paint in the final minute of play.
 
Out of the half, Holland scored in the post to give the Wolverines their first lead of the game, 30-29, but UTRGV answered with the next seven points. Sophia Jacobsson stopped that run with a layup to get UVU within four, 36-32.
 
Down three late in the third, Williams and Holland scored consecutive buckets to give the Wolverines a 40-39 lead entering the final quarter.
 
Utah Valley now heads to defending WAC champion and preseason favorite New Mexico State on Saturday for a noon MT tip-off. The Aggies are 3-1 in league play after a 75-55 win over Seattle U at home on Thursday night.