OPENING TIP
WAC leader Utah Valley University returns home for a pair of conference games this week beginning on Thursday against CSU Bakersfield in a Kid's Day game at 11 a.m. MT in the UCCU Center. The Wolverines (8-9) are 5-0 in the WAC and have won seven straight overall while the Runners (11-7) are 3-1 and in second place in the conference. Admission to Thursday's game is free.

UVU, off to its best WAC start since joining the league in 2013, swept its two-game road trip at New Mexico State and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley last week. The Wolverines snapped NM State's 23-game home winning streak in WAC play on Thursday, outscoring the Aggies 16-9 in the fourth quarter to earn a 58-54 win. Josie Williams led three players in double figures with 13 points with Jordan Holland finishing with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Two days later, UVU defeated UTRGV 76-67, with Eve Braslis' 18 points leading all scorers. Alexis Cortez finished with 17 points, Holland with 16 points and nine rebounds, and Nehaa Sohail scored a career-high 13. The Wolverines had 25 assists as a team with Maria Carvalho's career-high 10 assists leading the way.

Holland averaged 13.5 points and 9.5 rebounds while Sohail averaged 11.0 points in the two wins. During the seven-game win streak, UVU is holding opponents to 53.9 points per game and 32.5% shooting from the field. 

ABOUT THE RUNNERS
CSU Bakersfield, at 11-6 on the season, owns the WAC's best overall record so far this season. The Runners are led by Iona transfer Jayden Eggleston, who averages 12.2 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. Judge Memorial High School (Salt Lake City) product Vanessa Austin, the daughter of former Utah Jazz and NBA player Ike Austin, is averaging 10.3 points per game. CSUB was upset last Saturday at home against previously-winless Chicago State to snap a streak of three straight wins to begin the conference schedule. CSU Bakersfield is 15-6 all-time against UVU and has won three of the last four meetings. The Runners are 4-5 all-time in Orem.

COMING UP
The Wolverines host Grand Canyon on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the UCCU Center before returning to the road next week for a single game, at California Baptist, on Wednesday, Jan. 29.