OREM, Utah – Saige Gibb tied a season high with 14 points and added six rebounds as Utah Valley fell to Idaho State, 59-56, on Saturday inside the UCCU Center. The Wolverines (7-4) had three players score in double figures, with Halle Nelson and Cambree Blackham finishing with 11 points apiece. Idaho State (7-4) was led by Tasia Jordan, who scored a game-high 26 points.
 
Utah Valley jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the opening minute after Nelson made a pair of free throws and Kylee Mabry hit a turnaround jumper. Nelson scored seven points in the quarter, including a layup in the paint and a 3-pointer to give UVU an 11-8 lead. After Idaho State briefly moved ahead, Blackham knocked down a 3-pointer to put Utah Valley back in front. Gibb closed the quarter with five points, including a 3-pointer from long range, as the Wolverines led 20-14 after one.
 
Idaho State regained the lead midway through the second quarter at 23-22 after limiting Utah Valley to two free throws from Naia Tanuvasa. The Wolverines responded when Amanda Barcello connected on a corner 3-pointer to reclaim a 25-23 lead with 2:49 left in the half for her first bucket of the day. Blackham later drove the baseline and found Chaney cutting to the basket for a layup to put UVU up three late in the first half. After the Bengals scored on back-to-back possessions, Gibb hit a jumper as time expired to send Utah Valley into the half with a 29-28 lead. 
 
Utah Valley pushed its lead to eight in the third quarter as Nelson converted a free throw and knocked down her third 3-pointer of the game. Gibb added back-to-back baskets to keep the Wolverines in front, but Idaho State closed the quarter strong and carried the momentum into the fourth.
 
The Wolverines trailed 49-44 with 6:22 remaining and snapped a four-minute scoring drought when Blackham scored on a layup. Utah Valley continued to chip away and tied the game on a pair of free throws from Barcello. Idaho State answered and held the Wolverines without a field goal until under a minute remaining, when Gibb hit a jumper from the elbow. UVU cut the deficit to two in the final 30 seconds after Barcello knocked down a 3-pointer. Barcello attempted the potential tying shot at the buzzer, but the play was ruled late as time expired.
 
UP NEXT
Utah Valley opens WAC play Monday, Dec. 29, at California Baptist. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. MT (6 p.m. PT) in Riverside. The Wolverines return home later in the week to face Tarleton State and Abilene Christian.