OREM, Utah — Utah Valley opens WAC play this week starting Thursday afternoon at home against Grand Canyon. The Wolverines will also travel to St. George for a Saturday afternoon tilt at Utah Tech in the Old Hammer Rivalry. Both games are slated for 2 p.m. MT tips. 

The Wolverines (3-8) came from behind to beat Idaho on Dec. 21 in the final game prior to a short holiday break. In the game, Eleyana Tafisi set a career high with 18 points, Jaeden Brown pulled down a career-best 16 rebounds, and Shay Fano's free throw with 32.4 seconds broke a 57-57 tie and went as the game-winner. 

Tafisi has scored in double figures in each of the last four games and is averaging 14.5 points per game during that time. Brown leads the Wolverines with averages of 11.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. 

UP NEXT
UVU will be home twice next week in conference play, hosting New Mexico State on Wednesday, Jan. 4 and California Baptist on Saturday, Jan. 7. 

ABOUT THE OPPOSITION
Grand Canyon is 8-3 but has lost two straight including an 81-78 overtime contest to Idaho on Dec. 18. The Lopes most recently fell at UC Irvine on Dec. 21, 64-51. GCU leads the nation in steals per game, averaging 15.6 while forcing 25 turnovers per game, which ranks fifth nationally. The Lopes are also fifth in the country with a +9.27 turnover margin. 

Utah Tech is also 8-3 entering WAC play this Thursday when the Trailblazers make the short trip to Cedar City to face Southern Utah. Utah Tech boasts the WAC's highest scoring average at 83.9 points per game, which is the 11th-best output in the country. Breaunna Gillen leads the WAC with 19.9 points per game.