OREM, Utah — Halle Nelson scored two baskets and blocked a pair of shots in the final two minutes to help Utah Valley University hold off Jacksonville State, 49-45, on Monday night in the UCCU Center. The win gives the Wolverines (7-4) a 2-0 record in the WAC/CUSA Challenge, including their road win in November at Kennesaw State.
 
The game was tied at 43-43 when Nelson pulled down an offensive rebound and scored as the clock ticked just under two minutes to go. She blocked Mya Barnes' attempt to tie the game on the next possession, and blocked another Barnes attempt with just over 40 seconds to go, before putting UVU up four, 47-43, on a layup with 15.1 seconds left.
 
"I was really proud of Halle. Not just her points and rebounds, but I thought she and Gracie (Sorenson) really affected the game well in different ways. Tonight really showed some of our depth," said UVU head coach Dan Nielson. "Sometimes in ugly games, you've got to gut it out and I think that's the progress our team's made. We'll take it. We needed that one today."

Nelson finished with eight points, five rebounds, and two blocks, while Tessa Chaney led UVU with nine points. Tahlia White and Kylee Mabry also chipped in eight points while Danja Stafford Collins grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds, six coming on the offensive glass. UVU had a 43-32 edge in rebounding and also pulled down 17 offensive boards.
 
Clara Gonzalez Planella scored a career-high 19 points to lead the Gamecocks (4-5). She made four 3-pointers in the contest and also finished with six rebounds. Barnes had nine points and 10 rebounds for Jax State.
 
A defensive battle throughout, neither team could get flowing offensively. Both teams had just three made field goals in the opening quarter. Mabry provided a spark off the bench, making two of the buckets as UVU trailed 12-11 after one. Scoring wasn't any more prevalent in the second quarter with the defenses continuing to have the edge. Both team had four made field goals in the second as the teams went into the break tied at 22.
 
The Wolverines closed the third and started the fourth on a 12-2 run to take a 41-36 lead and force a Jax State timeout. White ended the third and started the fourth with a basket to tie the game. During the run, Chaney made her first career 3-pointer, banking it in from the top of the arc.  
 
Gonzalez Planella answered with back-to-back 3-pointers to put Jacksonville State back in front. Mabry scored to put UVU back in front and Gonzalez Planella later went 1-for-2 from the line to tie it at 43-43 to set up the final two minutes.
  
UVU finished with 14 steals, four coming from Ally Criddle, and also collected six blocks. White also had two blocks for the Wolverines. Utah Valley will play its final non-conference game on Friday night at Weber State before a holiday break. Play will resume with the WAC season getting underway Jan. 4 at Abilene Christian.