OREM, Utah — A big fourth quarter helped defending WAC Champion California Baptist pull away from Utah Valley in an 83-68 win for the Lancers on Saturday afternoon in the UCCU Center. It was UVU's first home contest since Dec. 1, after six straight games away from home. 
 
Josie Williams had 22 points and 13 rebounds for the Wolverines, registering her ninth double-double of the season, while Caitlyn Harper scored a career-high 30 points for CBU, 15 of which came in the fourth. The Lancers (12-2, 3-0) outscored the Wolverines (5-9, 0-3) 25-14 in the fourth en route to their 20th straight win in WAC play.
 
"I thought we adjusted well after the start they had. Overall, we took some steps forward but it is frustrating to be in it in the fourth quarter and then have some defensive breakdowns that really cost us," said UVU head coach Dan Nielson. "Credit the CBU and to Harper, they hit shots and she did a really nice job finishing. I am proud of our fight, especially considering where we've been with just five players able to practice this past week. The positive is that we're back at it on Monday so we're going to keep working to improve."
 
California Baptist finished the game 13-for-26 from beyond the arc with Harper making all three of her attempts and Tiena Neale going 5-for-6 from distance, scoring all 15 of her points from long range. Madison Grange finished with 12 points for Utah Valley with Shay Fano added 11 points and seven rebounds. CBU was 28-for-55 (50.9%) overall while UVU hit 23-of-64 (35.9%) from the field. The Wolverines had a 42-31 edge on the glass.
 
The Lancers jumped out to a double-digit lead early behind a hot start from the perimeter. An 8-0 run gave CBU a 15-4 lead and just over five minutes in. California Baptist was 9-for-15 overall and hit six of the first eight attempts from three. Harper made all three she attempted and had 11 in the opening frame to help her team to a 28-18 lead after 10 minutes.
 
The Wolverines trimmed it to six early in the second quarter, but California Baptist extended it to 12, 37-25, after Ane Olaeta hit a three from the top of the arc. UVU finished the half with four straight points, two from Williams on a layup and two from Tahlia White from the line to make 39-31 at the half. 
 
Down 10 early in the third, Fano hit a corner three and Emma Martin later followed with her second triple during a 10-2 UVU run that got the Wolverines within four. Williams converted on layup with 5:27 left in the third to cap the run and make it 47-43. That was answered with a Neale three before five straight points from Williams cut it two. Again though, Neale answered with another triple, her fifth of the game.
 
Down 53-48, Fano scored four straight points to get the Wolverines as close as they had been all game, 53-52, with 2:15 to go. Eliana Bravington responded with the Lancers' 11th three to push it back to four, a lead that CBU would take in the fourth, 58-54. Williams scored 11 of her 22 points in the third.
 
It was 58-55 when Harper started a decisive run for California Baptist. She scored 15 of the next 21 points for the Lancers and extended the lead back to double figures with consecutive layups to make it 76-64. She capped a 13-4 run that gave CBU an 80-64 lead with 3:05 remaining.
 
Utah Valley will now head to St. George to take on Dixie State in the Old Hammer Rivalry on Monday afternoon at 3 p.m. MT in Burns Arena. It's the first meeting between the old junior college rivals at the NCAA Division I level.