OREM, Utah — Utah Valley University saw its hopes for a fourth-quarter comeback fall short as Idaho State University pulled away late in a 64-48 contest on Wednesday night in the UCCU Center.
Jaeden Brown and
Eleyana Tafisi led the way with 15 points apiece while
Shay Fano added seven. Tafisi's 15 points established a new career high and she also added four assists and four steals while Brown hauled in eight rebounds and had a career-high six steals on her season-high night in the scoring column. The Bengals (5-4) got double-doubles from Callie Bourne (14 points, 11 rebounds) and Laura Bello (14 points, 12 rebounds), with Bourne also collecting seven steals.
The Wolverines struggled from the field early while the Bengals started the game 7-for-11. ISU led 13-0 after Bourne hit a 3-pointer before the Wolverines made a run to get back into it. UVU converted on five straight attempts while also using defensive pressure and 3-point makes from Fano and Brown during a 10-2 run that made it 15-12 with 1:41 left in the first. Idaho State led 18-12 after one.
The Bengals extended the lead to nine, 21-12, before the Wolverines went on a 10-2 spurt behind a pair of triples from Brown.
Mae Afoa scored on a putback to cap the run and get UVU within a point, 23-22. Idaho State answered though, scoring seven straight points to push the lead back to eight. Utah Valley trailed 30-23 at the half.
Brown had 12 points to lead all scorers at the break with both teams while Bourne had seven to lead ISU. Both teams were plagued by turnovers, combining for 23 with 12 coming from Idaho State.
Out of the halftime break,
Ally Criddle scored first for UVU but the Bengals pushed the lead into double digits with an 8-2 spurt with all eight coming from Bello. UVU trailed by nine when Tafisi stole the ball at midcourt and took it the other way for two with just under two minutes to go in the quarter. Bello had 10 of her team-high 14 points in the third, including a bucket right before the horn to give ISU a 45-37 lead after three.
The Bengals pulled away in the fourth. After Tafisi hit a 3-pointer to make it 47-40, Idaho State went on a 12-0 run to put the game out of reach.
Up next for Utah Valley is a Saturday afternoon contest at 2 p.m. against Northwest Nazarene.
