LAS CRUCES, N.M. — A balanced offense and a staunch defense helped Utah Valley University to a convincing 66-32 win at New Mexico State on Saturday afternoon in the Pan Am Center. The Wolverines used a 20-0 run in the first half to take a big lead and earn a sweep of the road trip through Phoenix and Las Cruces and pick up two key games in the WAC standings.
Utah Valley (11-12, 6-6) held the Aggies (9-13, 5-7) to just 20% (13-65) from the field while also handing NM State its first home loss in WAC play this season. The points allowed and field percentage were season lows for a Utah Valley opponent this season.
"I couldn't be happier with the way we came ready to go today. After a road win less than 48 hours ago at GCU, it would have been easy to have a letdown, but as an entire team we were engaged from the opening tip," said UVU head coach
Dan Nielson. "We need to use this trip as momentum as we return home for two more big games next week."
Madison Grange led the way with 13 points while
Maria Carvalho and
Josie Williams scored 12 points each. Williams moved into second place in UVU's single season record book with her 17th double-double of the season after pulling down 12 rebounds, with Carvalho and Grange also grabbed seven and six rebounds, respectively.
The Wolverines scored the first seven points of the game starting with a
Kayla Anderson three on the opening possession. The Aggies missed their first six shots and suffered through a stretch of 13 straight misses that spanned the end of the first and first half of the second quarter. During that time, Utah Valley turned an 11-6 lead into a 31-6 advantage with 3:46 left until the half.
Tahlia White and Grange both buried 3-pointers during the 20-0 run with Grange scoring all seven of her first half points in the second quarter. UVU led 17-6 after one and outscored the Aggies 18-6 in the second to lead 35-12 at the half. Carvalho led a balanced attack that saw seven different players score in the half with eight points. The Wolverines hit 53.8% (14-26) from the field while holding NM State to just 18.8% (6-32).
The Aggies scored seven straight points early in the third to make it an 18-point game, but UVU eventually pushed it back to 25 with 1:55 left after consecutive makes from Carvalho. The Wolverines led 48-23 after three.
Anderson, who finished with eight points, gave the Wolverines a 33-point lead, 59-26, with 4:55 to go.
Megan Jensen finished with seven points, White added five and
Eleyana Tafisi scored four for Utah Valley.
Abby Conlee and
Emma Martin also got into the scoring column late for the Wolverines. The Aggies, who won a triple-overtime on Thursday against Dixie State, got six points and eight rebounds from Bigue Sarr.
Utah Valley returns home next week to face Tarleton (Feb. 16) and Dixie State (Feb. 19). Both games will be played in Lockhart Arena.
