OREM, Utah -- Utah Valley University opens Western Athletic Conference play with two games at unbeaten California Baptist this weekend in Riverside, California. The teams play Friday at 2 p.m. PT/3 p.m. MT in CBU Events Center and then will meet again on Saturday at 12 p.m. PT/1 p.m. MT.
UVU (2-1) was picked by the coaches while CBU (8-0) was tabbed as the media's selection to win the WAC in the earlier preseason polls. Both games can be seen live on the WAC Digital Network.
All WAC series will take place on consecutive days in the same location, limiting travel to just four scheduled road trips per team. Each team will also have four scheduled home weekends.
The Wolverines will be playing their first road games of the 2020-21 season this weekend. The five previously scheduled away contests have all been canceled due to COVID-19. In total, Utah Valley has had eight games canceled or postponed this season.
Utah Valley continues WAC play next weekend with the Wolverines hosting Seattle University on Friday, Jan. 15-16 with both games tipping at 5:30 p.m. MT in the UCCU Center.
LAST TIME OUT
Montana State University held off a late Utah Valley University charge to win, 66-63, on Saturday, Jan. 2 in the UCCU Center. UVU trailed by 10 entering the final quarter and got within three on multiple occasions. The Bobcats led 63-60 in the final minute when Katelynn Limardo hit a deep 3-pointer to beat the shot clock and make it a 6-point game with just 14.8 seconds left. Shay Fano came back with a three on the other end with 6.9 to go but time would run out on UVU.
Josie Williams led UVU with 17 points and eight rebounds while Fano added 13 points and Madison Grange added 10 off the bench for the Wolverines, who hadn't played a game since Dec. 10 due to multiple COVID-19 cancelations.
ABOUT CALIFORNIA BAPTIST
California Baptist enters WAC play with an unblemished 8-0 record and Britney Thomas leading three players averaging in double figures with 14.2 points, to go along with 10.0 rebounds per game. WAC Preseason Player of the Year pick Ane Olaeta is scoring 13.4 points and Caitlyn Harper is averaging 12.9 per contest.
CBU is 3-1 all-time against Utah Valley. The two teams split the series last season, with each winning on its home floor.
UVU LANDS BYU TRANSFER
The Wolverines signed Babalu Ugwu, a junior midyear transfer from BYU. She joined the team for the spring semester and will become eligible to play for the 2021-22 season as a junior Ugwu, a 6-foot forward, is a native of Jundiai, Sao Paolo, Brazil and was a member of the U14-U17 Brazilian National Teams. As a member of the U16 Brazilian National Team at the 2015 FIBA World Championships, Ugwu scored 23 points in an upset win over the USA. That team finished second to the Canadian National Team with Ugwu averaging 12.4 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. She attended high school in North Carolina, at Friendship Christian School, where she was named MVP of the 2017 State Tournament and led her team to a 2018 State Championship. Ugwu originally signed with BYU as an ESPN three-star recruit.
