LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Utah Valley University opened the 2021 WAC Women's Basketball Tournament with a 61-43 victory over Chicago State in the tournament quarterfinals on Wednesday at the Orleans Arena.
 
The Wolverines (13-5) won their sixth straight and now advance to the tournament semifinals for the third time in program history, and the first time since 2017. Tip for Friday's game is set for 2 p.m. PT/3 p.m. MT. UVU's opponent will be Grand  Canyon, winners over UT Rio Grande Valley on Wednesday night.
 
"Obviously we're really happy to get the win today, but I was a little frustrated with our consistency," said UVU head coach Dan Nielson. "We kind of took our foot off the gas and we'll correct some things, but I'm really proud of our group to be in the position we're in and how far we've come since last year. To be 13-5 and still be playing in our tournament, we're pretty excited about it."
 
Maria Carvalho led the Wolverines with 15 points while Madison Grange matched her career high with 13 off the bench. Nadia Thorman-McKey scored 18 for the Cougars (0-14) to lead all scorers.
 
The Wolverines jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead behind five points from Carvalho, who had 10 points in the opening quarter. She hit a three to give UVU a 14-6 lead midway through the first. Utah Valley closed the quarter on a 7-0 run, on a Grange three, a layup from Nehaa Sohail and two Grange free throws. The Wolverines led 21-8 after one behind hit 8-of-14 (57.1%) shooting.
 
Josie Williams scored almost immediately to open the second to extend it to nine straight and push it to 23-8 for UVU's biggest lead of the half. The Cougars were able to not let the game get away by working on the glass, outrebounding the Wolverines 16-5 in the second quarter, including eight on the offensive glass. UVU limited Chicago State to just 28.6% shooting in the half though, carrying a 30-18 lead into the break.
 
Utah Valley pulled away in the third, starting the second half on a 12-2 run to take a 42-20 lead. Shay Fano and Grange both knocked down 3-pointers and Va'e Malufau scored on a layup to push it to the 22-point lead. UVU outscored CSU 15-5 in the third and led 45-23 heading into the fourth.
 
Chicago State got hot in the fourth, hitting seven of its first 11 attempts to start the quarter to get within 11, 49-38, but Grange buried a three to stretch it back to 14 and the Wolverines coasted to the win.
 
The Cougars had a slight 33-31 edge in rebounding and turned 16 offensive boards into 16 second chance points. UVU finished with 17 assists and turned 25 CSU turnovers into 20 points.