RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Behind a big second half, California Baptist University topped Utah Valley University, 83-54, on Thursday afternoon in the CBU Events Center.
 
The Lancers (10-10, 3-4) used big third-quarter behind Emma Meriggioli to take control of the game, outscoring the Wolverines (11-10, 5-3) by 17, 25-8, in the quarter. UVU trailed 44-37 after Jordan Holland knocked down a three, before a 9-0 run was extended to 14-2 and gave CBU a 58-39 lead late in the quarter. Meriggioli finished with 21 points on 7-of-10 overall including 6-for-9 from three. Utah Valley got 12 points apiece from Jordan Holland and Emma Jones, who hit 5-of-6 from the field. UVU trailed 39-34 after the first 20 minutes but was outscored 44-20 in the second half.
 
California Baptist attempted 44 shots from three in the game, hitting 16. CBU came into the game averaging nine makes on 29 attempts from beyond the arc. The Lancers made 31-for-73 overall (42.5 percent) and assisted on 29 of the 31 makes. Utah Valley was 23-for-64 (35.9 percent) from the floor.
 
CBU led 16-14 after one, thanks to a trio of 3-pointers, including two from Meriggioli. Eve Braslis hit all three of her attempts from the field for six points while Keana Delos Santos scored four and hit both of her shots from the floor.
 
Utah Valley trailed by six when Holland – who finished with nine in the first half -- knocked down a three from the top of the circle to make it 21-18, but two quick buckets from the Lancers led to a 25-18 lead and a Wolverine timeout.
 
Va'e Malufau – who scored six in the opening half -- and Holland scored four each to help the Wolverines get within three, 31-28, before an 8-0 run gave CBU its largest lead of the half, 39-28. Tiena Afu's 3-pointer with 2:15 left was the eighth of the half for the Lancers and capped the run.
 
Behind a pair of 3-pointers from Jones in the final minute of the half, the Wolverines made it a 39-34 game at the break.
 
California Baptist pushed the lead back into double figures early in the third quarter before a Holland three made it 44-37. The Lancers came back with nine straight points over the next two minutes with Meriggioli hitting two more from long distance and a 53-37 lead.
 
The Wolverines finish the first half of conference play at 5-3 in the WAC and will be off until Saturday, Feb. 9 when they begin the second half of league action at home against Seattle University.