OPENING TIP
Utah Valley University returns home this week for two games beginning Thursday at 6 p.m. in Lockhart Arena against the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The Wolverines (8-13, 5-4) have dropped four straight since defeating the same UTRGV team on the road on Jan. 18, 76-67.

UVU has played just two times in the last two weeks, most recently last Saturday at Seattle University, an 82-80 overtime loss. Josie Williams set a new career high with 23 points on 8-for-11 from the field and Jordan Holland added 14. Holland hit a 3-pointer with just under a minute to go in overtime to put UVU up one, but the Redhawks answered with a three with under 10 seconds left and held on.

A total of 46 fouls were whistled in the contest, with five players fouling out and the teams combining to shoot 55 free throws, including a season-high 33 by Utah Valley.

In the Wolverines' prior meeting against UTRGV, Eve Braslis finished with 18 points, Alexis Cortez finished with 17 and Holland added 16 to help UVU win its seventh straight game. Cortez scored 15 of her points in the second half and Utah Valley broke a tie at the half by outscoring the Vaqueros by eight in the third. Jordan Agustus led UTRGV with 17. The win was the third straight for UVU in the series against the Vaqueros.

ABOUT THE VAQUEROS
UTRGV (10-13, 5-5) is bunched with five teams -- including Utah Valley --  that are separated by just one game in the loss column in the WAC standings. The Vaqueros are tied with New Mexico State for fifth, one-half game behind the third-place Wolverines and CSU Bakersfield, both at 5-4. UTRGV has won two of its last three including a 77-68 win over Chicago State last week at home. 

COMING UP
The Wolverines host NM State on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Lockhart Arena before heading on a two-game road trip to CSUB and Grand Canyon next week.