OREM, Utah — Utah Valley University capped the WAC regular season with a 60-51 win over New Mexico State to secure the No. 4 seed in next week's WAC Tournament. Josie Williams picked up her 22nd double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds while Abby Conlee notched the first of her career with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
 
Both marks were career highs for Conlee while Eleyana Tafisi scored a career-high 14 points along with five rebounds and five assists while playing all 40 minutes as the Wolverines (15-14, 10-8) were without starting point guard Maria Carvalho. Madison Grange added 14 points and five rebounds for Utah Valley who, after losing the rebound battle the last two games, outrebounded the Aggies (10-18, 6-12) by 13, 39-26.
 
"I really could not be prouder of this team. We're dealing with a lot of injuries and this was a true team win," said UVU head coach Dan Nielson. "Abby came in and changed the game in the second quarter with her energy, Emma hit the big three and Eleyana did a great job. We're exhausted but we're ready for the tournament."
 
The Aggies scored the first five points of the game and built a 16-10 lead after one behind 7-for-12 shooting from the floor. Of Conlee's 12 boards, six were on the offensive glass including one that resulted in free throws and started a 9-2 run that gave UVU a 24-21 lead in the second quarter. The Wolverines went into the break ahead 26-24 with Grange's seven points leading the way.
 
The Wolverines clamped down defensively in the third, limiting the Aggies to just 3-for-14 shooting to win the quarter 17-8 and take a 43-32 lead into the final 10 minutes. UVU used an 11-1 run, with five of the points coming from Williams, to take a 43-29 late in the quarter, but a 3-point-play with just 2.9 seconds left from Molly Kaiser helped New Mexico State get back within 11.
 
A pair of Williams' free throws and a putback after an offensive rebound by Conlee gave the Wolverines a 47-34 lead two minutes into the fourth. The Aggies got within nine on a 3-pointer from Soufia Onoussa and then, after Grange scored for UVU, made it a 51-44 contest on a Deja Terrell three. Tafisi answered that with a big three that just beat the shot clock with just over three minutes left in the game to push the lead back to double digits.
 
NM State scored five straight — all from the line — to trim it to six with just over two minutes left, but that's as close as the Aggies would get. Kaiser led New Mexico State with 12 points.
 
The Wolverines earned a bye into the quarterfinals of next week's tournament and will play on Thursday, March 10 at noon PT/1 p.m. MT from Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.