OPENING TIP
WAC play begins on Saturday as Utah Valley University heads to Texas to face streaking Abiliene Christian, winners of nine straight entering conference play. Tip is set for 1 p.m. CT/noon MT on Saturday from Moody Coliseum.

UVU (8-4) was picked to finish eighth out of nine teams in the WAC preseason poll. The Wolverines had the third-best non-conference record in the WAC, trailing Grand Canyon and ACU. Its eight wins in the pre-WAC schedule matches the 2015-16 team for the most non-league victories since joining the WAC in 2013-14. 

Utah Valley leads the WAC and ranks fifth nationally with an average of 14.5 steals per game, and also ranks 12th in the country with 24.3 turnovers forced per game. 

Danja Stafford Collins, who set a career-high with 18 rebounds in a win at Weber State on Dec. 20, leads the league with 9.3 rebounds per game while also sitting at ninth in the country with 4.7 of those coming on the offensive glass. 

LAST TIME OUT
Several Wolverines had career nights in a narrow 57-55 road win at in-state rival Weber State prior to the holiday break. Ally Criddle established a new career-high 16 points, Stafford Collins had nine rebounds on both the offensive and defensive glass for her career-high 18. Criddle was also 6-for-6 from the line on a night UVU finished 11-for-12. 

Halle Nelson had a career-high seven steals as the team totaled 18 on the night while forcing 28 WSU turnovers. Tahlia White matched her career high with five steals, and also pitched in 14 points. Utah Valley held a 25-8 advantage in points off turnovers.

ABOUT THE OPPOSITION
Abilene Christian has not suffered a defeat since Nov. 21, with six of the nine consecutive wins coming away from Moody Coliseum. Among the victories during the streak are true road wins at Incarnate Word, Florida International, and New Mexico. Sophomore guard Payton Hull leads the WAC with an average of 18.5 points per game while Bella Earle is averaging 14.9 points. Utah Valley is 0-5 all-time in the short time the programs have competed together in the WAC. 

UP NEXT
The Wolverines face a gauntlet right out of the chute in league play, with three straight on the road. After Saturday's game, UVU will head out a two-game trip next week that will take them to league-leading Grand Canyon and perennial WAC powerhouse, California Baptist.