OREM, Utah — A big fourth quarter helped Utah Valley University overtake and then withstand a late comeback attempt in a 76-72 win over Northwest Nazarene on Saturday in the UCCU Center. A season-high four Wolverines scored in double figures led by 17 points from Jaeden Brown.
 
Saige Gibb set a new career-high as she and Eleyana Tafisi matched hers for the second game in a row as both scored 15 points while Shay Fano finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds to record her second double-double in the last three games. The win also snapped the Wolverines' (2-7) seven-game skid.
 
"Credit to Northwest Nazarene. They really ran their stuff well and hurt us," said UVU head coach Dan Nielson. "When we took care of the ball and got stops we were able to go on some good runs. We need to use each game to improve and give ourselves a chance to win some games in conference play. I'm proud of the way we competed and found a way to win today." 
 
UVU jumped ahead quickly with a stretch of five makes in six attempts to build a 12-2 lead just over three minutes in. Brown scored six of the points while Kylee Mabry and Fano both dropped in 3-pointers for the Wolverines.

The Nighthawks answered with 11 straight points as turnovers plagued the Wolverines over the remainder of the quarter. Ally Criddle ended the run with a jumper, but Northwest Nazarene scored the last four points, capped by an Emma Clark three to take an 18-14 lead after the first quarter.
 
Utah Valley's scoring struggles continued into the second as the Nighthawks extended the run with seven straight before Fano scored on a putback to make it 23-16. NNU made four consecutive attempts from beyond the arc to start the quarter to and built a 32-18 lead with 5:58 left before halftime.
 
The Wolverines trailed 34-20 before closing the half on a 13-0 run. Criddle had five points with both she and Gibb knocking down triples and Fano also had four points during the run to get UVU within one, 34-33, at the half.
 
After limiting their turnovers in the second, the Wolverines had those same issues return in the third with the Nighthawks scoring the first 10 points out of the break with seven coming from Claire Eubanks. Mae Afoa stopped the run with a corner three, but Jordan Pinson came right back with a triple of the next possession for NNU. After a free throw by Tafisi, Brown scored on a layup before Gibb buried a 3-pointer from the top of the circle to get UVU back within five, 47-42. Utah Valley trailed 50-46 after three.
 
After Pinson started the fourth with a 3-pointer for NNU, Fano scored six straight and Brown scored after Criddle corralled an offensive board and the Wolverines led 54-53, taking a lead for the first time since the opening quarter. It was 56-55 when Criddle fed Brown, who scored, was fouled and converted the free throw to give UVU a 59-55 advantage.
 
UVU stretched it to as much as nine on three different occasions — the latest coming when Tafisi beat the shot clock with a jumper with 1:41 remaining — before the Nighthawks attempted to whittle away at the deficit. NNU got as close as three after McKenna Castledine hit a three with 15 seconds left, but Tafisi went 1-for-2 from the line to make it a two-possession game and ice it.
 
Criddle added nine points and six assists for the Wolverines while Gibb's new career high came after she hit four 3-pointers in the contest. Gibb scored 12 of her 15 in the second half while Tafisi had 11 after the break, eight of which came in the final frame. Eubanks led three Northwest Nazarene players in double figures with 16 points while Pinson had 15 points and six assists.
 
UVU had a 45-29 edge in rebounding and shot 43.9% (25-57) overall while NNU was 21-for-60 from the field (35%).
 
The Wolverines will now focus on finals early next week before resuming action next Saturday, Dec. 17 at Fresno State.