OREM, Utah – Nehaa Sohail scored 17 of her career-high 21 points in the first half, and Josie Williams finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds as Utah Valley University completed the weekend sweep of Seattle University, 78-66, on Saturday in the UCCU Center.
 
The Wolverines (4-3, 2-2) also got a UVU-high 14 points and five assists from Kayla Anderson, and 13 points, six assists, and four steals from Maria Carvalho. Williams' 11 rebounds also marked a new career-high. UVU jumped out to a 25-7 lead after the opening quarter and held off several spirited comeback attempts from the Redhawks (4-7, 0-2). Utah Valley was able to use a big opening quarter for the second straight day and ride it to a win.

"We really challenged the girls after last night to come out strong again. I think it's easy, playing the same team, to think we'll just do it again but we know that team. Seattle's well-coached, they're a good team and we knew they'd be ready to go, so I was really pleased with our start," said UVU head coach Dan Nielson. "Every time they made a run we responded and stayed together. However you can get wins in league is great, so we're on the right track."

In the first, the Wolverines forced eight turnovers -- Anderson had all three of her steals in the first – that turned into 13 points on the offensive end. UVU also hit six straight attempts from the field, capped when Anderson picked a pocket on one and laid it in on the other to make it 17-7 at with 4:30 left.
 
It was 20-7 with under a minute to go when Megan Jensen scored consecutive buckets to end the first. After scoring with 26 seconds remaining, Carvalho found Jensen and she scored right before the horn sounded to make it 25-7 after one. UVU shot 60% in the quarter (9-15) and limited SU to 25% (3-12).
 
With UVU leading 28-10 early in the second, Sohail hit three consecutive 3-pointers in a span of just 63 seconds to give the Wolverines a 34-10 lead.
 
Out of a timeout, the Redhawks responded with a 14-2 run to climb back into the game and make it 36-24 with 3:02 left until the break. Carvalho hit a three to stem the run and, after a pair of SU free throws, Sohail scored and was fouled to help stretch the lead back to 16, 42-26. The Wolverines led 42-28 at the half.
 
The Redhawks went on a 10-2 run early in the third to make it a six-point game, 46-40, on the strength of a pair of 3-pointers from McKenzi Williams. Seattle U got as close as five in the third, and converted on nine of its first 13 attempts from the field in the quarter. Williams scored 10 in the quarter as SU outscored UVU 22-15 and it was 57-50 entering the fourth.
 
Utah Valley didn't allow Seattle U to score until 5:07 mark of the fourth and were able to push the lead back into double digits, 63-50, during that stretch.
 
Williams was able to get the Redhawks as close as six down the stretch, but the Wolverines were able to hold them offf, thanks in part to making all 12 attempts from the line in the quarter. Utah Valley was 21-for-23 from the line overall in the game.
 
Sohail and Williams combined to make 12-for-17 from the field, with Sohail going hitting 4-of-5 from long distance. Williams scored 18 of her game-high 20 points in the second half for Seattle U. Georgia Kehoe snagged a game-high 13 boards for the Redhawks. 
 
The Wolverines are now scheduled to host Park University next Friday at 2 p.m. in the UCCU Center in a game that was recently added to the schedule. UVU resumes WAC play On Jan. 29-30 at Tarleton.