NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Utah Valley University dropped the opening game of its two-game Texas trip to WAC favorite Stephen F. Austin, 72-46, on Thursday night in William R. Johnson Coliseum.
 
Kaylee Byon had 15 points to lead UVU while Eleyana Tafisi finished with eight points, six rebounds and five assists.
 
The Wolverines (4-14, 1-6) stayed in it early as both teams struggled to shoot the ball well in the opening quarter. The Ladyjacks (15-3, 5-1) took advantage of six offensive rebounds in the quarter, attempted nine more field goals, and led 14-10 after one.
 
Tafisi and Byon both scored to start the second and tie the game at 14-14. Tafisi's bucket came after she got a steal near midcourt and took it the hoop herself. Down 17-14, Shay Fano scored on a driving layup to get the Wolverines within a point before SFA went on an 18-2 run over the final five minutes of the half.
 
The Ladyjacks scored 12 straight behind a pair of 3-pointers from Tyler McCliment-Call and five points from Aiyana Johnson — who had a game-high 11 in the first half — before Mae Afoa stopped the run on a layup with an assist from Byon. SFA then scored six straight before the half expired, with two buckets coming from Avery Brittingham.
 
In the third, Utah Valley trailed 38-22 after a pair of free throws from Byon, when the McCliment-Call hit a three and, after a steal, hit another from distance to extend it to 44-22 and give her four makes from three to that point. SFA led 51-30 after three quarters of play.
 
The Wolverines got within 17, 53-36, after Byon hit consecutive jumpers, but the Ladyjacks pulled away with 10 straight points over the next three minutes of play.
 
Johnson led all scorers with 22 points while McCliment-Call finished with 14. SFA was 28-for-62 (45.2%) from the field while UVU shot 18-for-45 (40%). The Wolverines finished with 23 turnovers while the Ladyjacks turned it over just 10 times, helping them attempt 17 more field goals in the contest.  
 
The Wolverines will now head to Huntsville to take on Sam Houston on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. CT/1 p.m. MT.