OPENING TIP
With just two home games under its belt so far this season, the Utah Valley University women's basketball team returns to the UCCU Center for two games this week. The Wolverines (1-6) will host Idaho State on Wednesday at 6 p.m. and Northwest Nazarene on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. Both games will air live on ESPN+.

UVU is coming off of a 65-55 loss at Utah State last Saturday, in which Shay Fano recorded a double-double with 18 points and a season-high 12 rebounds. The Wolverines trailed by just one late in the contest, but the Aggies finished the game on an 11-2 run. Jaeden Brown added nine points and a career-high six blocks while Saige Gibb established a career-high with nine points. 

ABOUT THE OPPOSITION
Idaho State is 4-4 on the season and has won three of its last four games including a 58-54 overtime win over St. Thomas — Utah Valley's opponent last week in Orem — on Saturday in Pocatello. The Bengals lead the all-time series 12-5 and have won seven straight over the Wolverines. Callie Bourne leads the team at 13.5 points per game while Finley Garnett averages 10.9 points for ISU. Garnett has several ties to Utah Valley's track program. Her brother (Aiden) is currently on the team while her sister (Gately) and sister-in-law (Lorie Hoffman Garnett) are also former track athletes at UVU. 

Saturday's contest is an exhibition game for Northwest Nazarene, a member of NCAA Division II. The Nighthawks are 6-2 on the year and led by 15.0 points per game from Jordan Pinson. Utah Valley and NNU have split two games all-time, playing both of those contests during the 2003-04, UVU's first season of a six-year transition from junior college to NCAA DI.  

UP NEXT
The Wolverines will play just once next week when they travel to Fresno State for a contest on Saturday, Dec. 17.