LOS ANGELES – Utah Valley women's basketball finished its California road trip with a 2-0 record after a 64-60 victory over Loyola Marymount on Wednesday night. UVU (2-0) had three players finish in double figures, led by Tessa Chaney, who had 13 points. Amanda Barcello added 12, and Kylee Mabry finished with 10. LMU (0-1) was led by Ivana Krajina, who finished with 15 points on 4-of-7 shooting from 3-point range.
 
The Wolverines capitalized on LMU's 26 turnovers, converting them into 22 points. They finished with 15 steals, with Cambree Blackham recording a career-high six steals and seven assists while scoring eight points.
 
"I'm so proud of our group tonight, not just for the win, but for their toughness. They answered every time LMU made a run," said UVU head coach Dan Nielson. "I thought we played good team basketball tonight and that our defense disrupted them the way we wanted to. Overall, it was great to go 2-0 to start the year and finish it with a win over a good WCC team!"
 
Utah Valley opened the game with momentum, as Chaney scored the first points with a jumper in the paint. Despite some early turnovers, the Wolverines kept pace with LMU through steady defensive play until the Lions went up 11-5. Barcello's 3-pointer cut the LMU lead to 11-8; later, she hit a pair of free throws to make it 15-12. Saige Gibb followed up her performance on Monday with seven points, including a layup, but the Lions held a 17-12 lead after one.
 
Utah Valley began the second quarter by capitalizing on turnovers to take its first lead after tying the game at 19-19. The Wolverines went on a 12-2 run, with Gibb knocking down a triple to put UVU in front 22-21. The run continued with buckets by Blackham and Halle Nelson before Kaylee Headrick drilled a 3-pointer to extend the lead to 29-25.
 
The third quarter began with a crucial layup by Chaney, setting a strong tone for the Wolverines. Despite a quick response from LMU with a 3-pointer, Chaney again delivered, maintaining a 35-29 lead. The Lions responded and tied the game before Barcello connected from beyond the arc, pushing Utah Valley ahead. The third quarter saw five ties and three lead changes during the span. In the final minute, Barcello's jumper put the Wolverines in front, but LMU capitalized on free throws in the closing seconds to edge ahead. The quarter concluded with LMU leading narrowly, 52-51.
 
Utah Valley began the fourth quarter by capitalizing on an early turnover from LMU, with Barcello assisting Chaney for a crucial jumper that tightened the score. Mabry then delivered a key 3-pointer, assisted by Barcello, which shifted the momentum in favor of the Wolverines with a 56-54 lead.
 
As the quarter progressed, the Wolverines extended their lead with contributions from Nelson, who scored consecutively with a layup and a 3-pointer, both assisted by Mabry. This scoring surge pushed the Wolverines ahead 62-54, creating a comfortable lead. In the closing minutes, after LMU managed to cut the deficit to 62-60, Blackham added a point from the free-throw line, and Headrick sealed the victory with a free throw in the final seconds. The Wolverines finished the game with a 64-60 win.
 
UP NEXT
Utah Valley will return home to the Beehive State and play Utah on Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. MT at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. The game will air on ESPN+. The home opener is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 14, against WCC foe Pepperdine.