OREM, Utah – Utah Valley University used a staunch defensive effort to earn a 57-49 win over in-state rival Utah State University on Saturday afternoon in the UCCU Center. Jordan Holland finished with 16 points and nine rebounds, leading all players in both categories. The Wolverines (2-9) held the Aggies (5-8) to an opponent season-lows of 49 points and 29.2% (14-for-48) shooting from the field.
 
"Jordan was great today. Offensively and defensively. She definitely provided a spark," said UVU head coach Dan Nielson. "Our defense was the key for us. I thought we did a particularly good job on their shooters. We played as a team and competed the whole way. It's a great way to go into Christmas."
 
Eve Braslis added 10 points and seven rebounds and Nehaa Sohail also scored 10 to go along with three steals for UVU. Utah State got 14 points from Faith Brantley and 13 from Hailey Bassett. The Wolverines held Utah State's leading scorer, Lindsey Jensen-Baker, to just two points on 0-for-4 shooting, with both points coming from the line.  
 
The Wolverines got an early spark from Madison Grange when she buried back-to-back 3-pointers during an 8-0 run. Grange, who finished with eight points overall, extended UVU's lead to 16-7 late in the opening quarter. The Aggies responded with a pair from beyond the arc to make it a 16-13 game after one.
 
UVU limited the USU to just five points in the second quarter, holding the Aggies without a field goal for over 10 minutes, dating back to the first quarter, before a make with just three seconds to go in the half. Utah State was 0-for-13 from the field in the second until the made jumper and Utah Valley entered the half with a 28-18 advantage.
 
The teams played an even third quarter – both teams scored 14 points – to give the Wolverines a 10-point cushion, 42-32, entering the final 10 minutes of play.
 
Utah Valley opened up a 47-34 lead early in the fourth before Brantley was fouled on a 3-pointer and hit all three from the stripe, then hit her third three of the game to get USU back within seven. Bassett made a 3-pointer with 32 seconds left to make it a five-point game, 53-48, but that's as close as the Aggies would get. The Wolverines converted all six attempts from the free-throw line in the final minute to ice the game, with four coming from Alexis Cortez.
 
The Wolverines forced 21 Utah State turnovers, scoring 15 points off of the takeaways. Utah Valley also had a 22-6 advantage on points in the paint.
 
UVU will wrap up non-conference play next Saturday afternoon at 12:30 p.m. MT against Ottawa (Arizona) in the UCCU Center. It's the first game of a women's/men's doubleheader to close out the calendar year.