OREM, Utah – Playing for the first time since Nov. 28, the Utah Valley University women's basketball returned to the court with an 84-43 win over William Jessup University on Thursday in the UCCU Center. All 11 players active for the game got into the scoring column for UVU.
 
The Wolverines (2-0) used a 23-2 run that spanned the end of the second quarter and first half of the third quarter to take a 34-point lead en route to the lopsided win. UVU outscored the Warriors (1-4) 47-17 in the middle quarters.
 
"I've got to give a lot of credit to Hernando (Planells), the head coach at William Jessup. They were going to be out here when they played SUU and he was willing to switch up the game day. We were just glad to get back on the court," said UVU head coach Dan Nielson. "We've had four practices in the last 27 days (due to COVID issues) so it was nice to get the rust off and get the win and get everybody some minutes. Overall I'm just really proud of the team effort."
 
Maria Carvalho led three players in double figures with 14 points while Shay Fano added 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists, and Josie Williams scored 10. Several players notched new career highs, including Sydney Wright and Eleyana Tafisi, who each scored nine. Utah Valley recorded assists on its first 11 made field goals and finished with 22 in the game, with Kayla Anderson's five leading the way.

Fano scored six of her points in the opening quarter, four of which came during 9-2 start that included seven straight UVU points. Williams hit a pair from the line and, after a William Jessup 3-pointer, hit a triple of her own to give UVU an 18-8 lead. The Wolverines led 18-10 after one.
 
UVU hit four straight field goals to start the second quarter to extend the lead to 28-13 lead just over two minutes in. Carvalho hit two 3-pointers during the run and later scored and was fouled for another 3-point play. Utah Valley led 31-16 before closing the half on a 13-2 run. Tafisi started the run with a three and Elina Tausinga got her first career bucket to put UVU up 41-16 in the final minute of the half. After Miranda Zaragoza scored for the Warriors, Carvalho beat the horn with another 3-pointer to finish the half with 12 points and give the Wolverines a 44-18 lead.

The Wolverines scored the first 10 points of the third to stretch the lead to 54-18, capped by a Va'e Malufau 3-point play.
 
The Wolverines also held a 53-28 edge in rebounds, led by eight from Nehaa Sohail. Tausinga finished with seven points and seven rebounds in just over 10 minutes off the bench. Utah Valley had 21 boards on the offensive glass, turning those into 18 second chance points. 

William Jessup was playing its third game in the last three days after facing California Baptist on Tuesday in Riverside, California, and Southern Utah on Wednesday in Cedar City, Utah. Following Thursday's game, WJU travels to Caldwell, Idaho for two games at the College of Idaho to extend the streak to five games in six days in three different states. 
 
Utah Valley now turns its attention to in-state foe BYU for the UCCU Crosstown Clash on Tuesday afternoon at 3 p.m. MT in Provo.