POCATELLO, Idaho — A shorthanded Utah Valley University team couldn't overcome a long scoring drought, falling in the final non-conference game of the season, 53-36, at Idaho State on Tuesday night. The Wolverines were without their top two scorers in first-team All-WAC returners Josie Williams and Maria Carvalho.
 
Still, UVU (5-6) led 32-30 late in the third quarter before suffering a 12-minute stretch of game time without a point while the Bengals (5-6) went on a decisive 19-0 run.
 
Tahlia White and Babalu Stewart combined on a 7-0 run to turn a 30-24 deficit into a 32-30 lead. White hit a pair of 3-pointers to tie it and then found Stewart for a layup with 3:19 left in the third. The Wolverines didn't score again until Ally Blackham found Stewart for two down low with under two minutes left in the game and UVU down 17.
 
Shay Fano led Utah Valley with 10 points and eight rebounds while Stewart finished with eight points and seven boards. Estefania Ors led all scorers with 15 points for the Bengals. 
 
Utah Valley shot just 23.2% (13-for-56) overall while Idaho State hit 40.8% (20-for-49). The points scored and shooting percentage were both season lows for UVU. The teams combined to turn the ball over 48 times, with 26 coming from the Wolverines, while both teams finished with 31 rebounds. 
 
The Wolverines missed their first nine attempts of the game before Fano hit a 3-pointer to give her team a 7-6 lead with 3:25 to go in the first. Emma Martin also hit a three in the quarter and the teams were tied 10-10 after one.
 
Finley Garnett hit a three for the Bengals to begin the second quarter before Megan Jensen scored on consecutive possessions to put UVU in front 14-13. The Wolverines trailed 20-16 late in the half when Fano connected on her second three of the game to make it a 20-19 game at the half.
 
Utah Valley converted on just 6-for-27 from the field (22.2%) in the first half while Idaho State was 8-for-23 (36.4%) with both teams saddled with turnovers, giving it away 14 times each over the first 20 minutes of play.
 
The Wolverines will return to action on Dec. 30 when they begin WAC play at Abilene Christian. Two days later, on New Year's Day, Utah Valley will face Tarleton to wrap up the two-game trip.