OREM, Utah -- Utah Valley University women's basketball is slated to open the 2020-21 season on Saturday against Southern Utah University. Tip is set for 2 p.m. MT in the UCCU Center and the game can be seen live on the WAC Digital Network (WACDigitalNetwork.com).

This season marks the second year of Dan Nielson's head coaching tenure at UVU. He led the team to a 12-16 record overall and a 9-6 finish in Western Athletic Conference play, the best finish since UVU joined the WAC in 2013.

The Wolverines return seven letterwinners and three starters from last year's team. The returning players include preseason All-WAC selections Maria Carvalho and Josie Williams. Utah Valley is welcoming six newcomers on this season's roster.

COVID-19 CHANGES SCHEDULE IN OPENER
Both UVU and SUU were scheduled to open their respective seasons at the University of Utah, but a COVID-19 test canceled both contests. The T-Birds were to open on Wednesday and the Wolverines on Saturday, and both teams made a late add to the schedule to face each other. It means the teams will play a home-and-home series this season, with Utah Valley traveling to Cedar City for a Dec. 18 matchup. 

ABOUT THE T-BIRDS
Southern Utah is coming off of an 18-win season, which included a share of the Big Sky Conference title, under third-year head coach Tracy Sanders. The T-Birds lost their top three scorers from that team, including Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year Rebecca Cardenas, who averaged 17.7 ppg as a senior. Shay Fano, who is now with Utah Valley, averaged 9.7 points and started 30 of 31 games as a freshman at SUU. 

COVID-19 PROTOCOLS
Utah Valley University is currently only permitting the immediate family members of each player and coach to attend the games in person. All home games can be seen live on the WAC Digital Network at no cost, with live stats available via StatBroadcast at UVUStats.com. All coach and player interviews will be conducted either by phone or via Zoom and as requested.

UVU PICKED FIRST, SECOND IN PRESEASON POLLS
Utah Valley University juniors Maria Carvalho and Josie Williams were both named to the preseason All-WAC first team while the Wolverines were picked to finish first in a close vote of the league's nine head coaches. The media picked the UVU second, behind California Baptist, with Carvalho on the first team and Williams a second-team selection. CBU's Ane Olaeta was tabbed the WAC Player of the Year in both polls.

NEW LOOK FOR WAC
The Western Athletic Conference had two outgoing members following last season but added Division I newcomers Dixie State (St. George, Utah) and Tarleton (Stephenville, Texas). Dixie State's move to DI gives the WAC two Utah schools and a total of seven NCAA Division I programs. The Trailblazers are also old junior college rivals with Utah Valley from the Scenic West Athletic Conference when the two competed at the NJCAA level. The two outgoing programs were CSU Bakersfield (Big West) and Kansas City (Summit League).

POLYNESIAN INFLUENCE
Utah Valley has six players and one coach who are of Polynesian descent on the 2020-21 roster. Assistant coach Keilani Unga is Tongan, as are Leilani Otuafi, Eleyana Tafisi and Elina Tausinga, while Rae Falatea, Shay Fano and Va'e Malufau are Samoan.