OPENING TIP
Utah Valley University closes out its four-game homestand this week with games against LMU and Bethesda. The Wolverines (4-0) will host the LMU Lions, out of the West Coast Conference, on Friday at 6 p.m. MT in the UCCU Center. UVU will then host Bethesda on Saturday at 2 p.m. MT in a game that will be played in Lockhart Arena. 

The Wolverines have won the first two games of the homestand by and average of 43.5 points per game. The team reached the 100-point mark in a 100-37 win over Park University Gilbert and followed that up with a 72-48 victory over Cal State Bakersfiend on Saturday. 

The four straight wins to start the season marks the best start in the Dan Nielson era, and the first 4-0 start since the 2007-08 team began 9-0. The Wolverines are the lone unbeaten remaining in the WAC. 

UVU leads the WAC and ranks third in the country with an average of 17.8 steals per game. The team also leads the WAC in several other team categories, including scoring defense (48.5 ppg) and scoring margin (+28.5), and is 10th nationally with 28.0 turnovers forced per game.

LAST TIME OUT
Utah Valley University used a big third quarter to move to remain unbeaten with a 24-point win over Cal State Bakersfield in the UCCU Center on Saturday afternoon. The Wolverines (4-0) outscored the Roadrunners (0-4), 25-7 in the third to put the game away early.

Amanda Barcello, coming off a game that saw her connect on five 3-pointers, led all scorers with 14 points, making all four of her attempts from three and two free throws. In two decisive wins last week, Barcello averaged 14.5 points and was 9-for-12 from three. As a team, the Wolverines made 10 shots from three, with seven different players hitting at least one.

Danja Stafford Collins had 11 points and six boards and Halle Nelson snagged 10 rebounds, matching her career-high, along with seven points and four assists. Tessa Chaney had eight points and seven boards, and Tahlia White added five points and six rebounds. Ally Criddle dished out six assists with the Wolverines assisting on 22 of 25 made field goals.

ABOUT THE OPPOSITION
LMU is 2-1 on the season and coming off of a 71-67 road win at the University of South Dakota on Nov. 13. Maya Hernandez and Naudia Evans combined for 57 of the 71 points with Hernandez' 33 points and 10 rebounds helping to earn her the WCC Player of the Week award on Monday. Hernandez is averaging 22.0 points and 8.3 boards so far this season. Evans is a transfer UVU is familiar with, as she joined LMU after three seasons at Grand Canyon. UVU and LMU will meet for the first time in program history in Friday's contest.