OREM, Utah — Utah Valley University ran away from Park University (AZ) in the season opener, 90-47, on Tuesday night at the UCCU Center. Maria Carvalho led Utah Valley with 23 points, matching her career high while Madison Grange set a new career high with 15 points.
 
Over a 14-minute stretch to close the first quarter until halftime, the Wolverines outscored the Buccaneers 40-11. The spurt included a 32-point second quarter, UVU's highest scoring output in a quarter since Nov. 23, 2015 against the University of San Francisco, the first season the NCAA went to four quarters.
 
Josie Williams added a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds, and Megan Jensen added 12 points as four Wolverines reached double figures. Carvalho was 9-of-15 from the floor including 4-for-7 from three and also had seven rebounds and five assists. All 10 UVU players to appear in the game got on the scoreboard.
 
"That spurt in the second quarter showed it starts with our defense. That jump started our offense and we were more efficient, trying to find teammates rather than pushing it and doing it ourselves," said UVU head coach Dan Nielson. "We had way too many turnovers, but I felt like the majority of them we were trying to hit home runs as opposed to what they were doing. Overall, I'm really happy with the effort and it was good to see a bunch of kids get minutes."
 
After struggling to take care of the ball for much of the opening quarter, the Wolverines trailed 15-12 before closing the first with eight straight points to start the decisive run. A pair of Grange 3-pointers spurred the run and UVU led 20-15 after one.
 
Kayla Anderson kept the surge going, burying consecutive triples to push the run to 14 straight points for a 26-15 lead. With UVU in front 26-18, it was Carvalho's turn from beyond the arc, as she nailed two in a row during a stretch in which the Wolverines would make 6-of-8 from three. Carvalho's makes began another Utah Valley spurt and were followed by consecutive 3-point plays from both Williams and Grange. Grange's free throw capped 12 straight Wolverine points and made it 38-18.
 
UVU continued to stay hot from the floor, finishing the half 19-for-32 (59.4%) with Carvalho scoring twice in the final 30 seconds, including a buzzer-beater to give her 15 — and her team a 52-26 lead — at the break. She also had five assists and five rebounds after the first 20 minutes while Grange added 12 points and Jensen added eight.
 
The lead reached as much as 44 points late in the contest with Utah Valley limiting Park to just 33.3% shooting overall. UVU made 50% (33-for-66) from the floor and were 9-for-26 from three.
 
Anderson finished with eight points as the starting five scored 73 of the team's 90 points. Off the bench, Emma Martin finished with five, Tahlia White and Abby Conlee added four, and Ally Blackham and Elina Tausinga both got in the scoring column with two points each. Park was led by 11 points from Elise Young with former Wolverine Macy Markus adding eight points and hitting both of her attempts from three in her return to Orem.
 
The Wolverines will next host Mountain West favorite Fresno State on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the UCCU Center. The Bulldogs are led by reigning Mountain West Player of the Year Haley Cavinder, who was recently named to the 25-player Becky Hammon watch list for the top mid-major player in the country.