OREM, Utah — Utah Valley University allowed just 14 points after halftime en route to a 62-50 win over Colorado Mesa on Tuesday night in the UCCU Center. The Wolverines used a 30-3 run over a 15-minute stretch of the game that ended the first quarter and extended into the fourth to fend off the Mavericks.
 
Josie Williams finished with 17 points and 13 boards — her fourth double-double in five games to start the season — and Maria Carvalho scored 14 to go along with seven rebounds and six assists. Kayla Anderson and Emma Martin had season-highs in scoring with 10 and nine, respectively, and Megan Jensen pulled down 12 rebounds. 
 
After trailing 36-27 late in the second quarter, Utah Valley (2-1) outscored Colorado Mesa 35-14 over the final 21-plus minutes.
 
"It was a disappointing first half. I thought we just weren't engaged and didn't have the effort that was necessary. But after halftime we switched things up to try and speed them up and it was nice to see our players stick with that," said UVU head coach Dan Nielson. "Colorado Mesa is well coached, the run their stuff really well and it can be difficult to guard. Overall I'm pleased with our response but it highlighted some areas where we need to be better."
 
The Mavericks kept pace by hitting from the perimeter in the opening quarter, and then continued their torrid start from downtown to take a 36-32 lead at the half. The Mavericks were 5-for-8 from beyond the arc in the opening quarter — UVU led 18-17 after one after CMU's Mariah Martin beat the first-quarter buzzer with a three. Martin's three began stretch of five straight makes for the Mavericks and led to a 26-22 lead early in the second. CMU stretched the lead to 36-27 on a Sophie Anderson three, a spurt of eight makes on 12 attempts from long distance to that point. Utah Valley began its decisive run late in the half, closing the second with five straight points, getting to within four after Martin hit her second 3-pointer of the half. 
 
Out of the break, Anderson knocked down a 3-pointer and Jensen followed with a bucket down low to extend the run to 10 straight points and a 37-36 Utah Valley lead. The Wolverines would not trail again. Anderson hit another jumper and Williams scored in the post, was fouled and converted the free throw to give Utah Valley a 42-36 lead and cap the run with 15 straight points.
 
Martin finally ended a scoring drought of nearly seven minutes with a free throw, but Colorado Mesa was mired in a stretch of 17 straight misses from the field. After two more points in the paint by Williams gave UVU 44-37 lead with 2:58 left in the third, Martin finally snapped a nearly 10-minute stretch without a field goal on a jumper with 2:39 left. Another Williams' bucket gave Utah Valley a 48-39 advantage after three. The Mavericks were just 1-for-21 from the field in the third as the Wolverines won the quarter, 16-3.
 
Martin hit her third 3-pointer of the game with 6:45 remaining, giving Utah Valley a 57-39 lead and extending the run to 30-3. UVU led 60-41 on a Carvalho three before the Mavericks went on a 7-0 run to get within 12 with less than two minutes remaining but they would get no closer.
 
The Wolverines were 25-for-65 (38.5%) overall while Colorado Mesa finished 19-for-66 (28.8%) from the field. After starting 8-for-12 from three, the Mavericks made just one of their last 13 attempts in the game. Martin had 15 points and also added eight rebounds and five assists while Kelsey Siemons had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds for Colorado Mesa.
 
The Wolverines will host Portland State on Saturday at noon in the UCCU Center. That game is part of a doubleheader with the Wolverine men, who host Denver at 3 p.m. MT.