OPENING TIP
Utah Valley University will play its final non-conference game of the season, and the final game prior to the holiday break, on Friday at Weber State at the Dee Events Center in Ogden. Tip is set for 6 p.m. MT with the game airing on ESPN+.

Friday is the second of six games against in-state schools for the Wolverines (7-4), who will meet WAC rivals Southern Utah and Utah Tech two times each during the 16-game league schedule. 

Utah Valley leads the WAC and ranks eighth nationally with an average of 14.2 steals per game. The Wolverines are also 19th in the country—and second in the WAC behind Abilene Christian–with 23.9 turnovers forced per game. UVU also is first in the conference in offensive rebounds per game (14.5), bench points per game (30.1), and field goal percentage defense (37.7%). 

Individually, Kylee Mabry is averaging 10.3 points per game while Danja Stafford Collins is second in the WAC with 8.5 rebounds per game. She leads the conference with 4.3 offensive rebounds per game, with the Wolverines 54th nationally with 14.5 offensive boards per contest. 

LAST TIME OUT
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 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.

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.

ABOUT THE OPPOSITION
Weber State is 3-6 overall after splitting two games over the weekend, including a road wi at Seattle U last Saturday before falling at Arizona on Monday. UVU and Weber State have met 17 times prior, with the Wildcats holding a slight 9-8 edge, including a 7-2 record against the Wolverines in Ogden. 

Taylor Smith leads the team with 12.3 points per game while Antoinette Emma-Nnopu is scoring 9.7 points and pulling down a team-high 7.7 rebounds per game. Friday's games also serves as the final non-conference game for the Big Sky program, with league play beginning Jan. 2 against Northern Colorado.

UP NEXT
The Wolverines will begin WAC play on Jan. 4 at Abilene Christian with the first three league games all on the road. The following week, the Wolverines will be at Grand Canyon and California Baptist.