OPENING TIP
Utah Valley University will host in-state rival Utah Tech University on Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the UCCU Center in Orem. The game is part of the Old Hammer Rivalry between the former junior college foes. The Wolverines (13-10, 5-6) won the previous meeting between the teams in St. George, 62-46, on Jan. 18, behind 18 points from Tahlia White and 13 points and 11 rebounds from Danja Stafford Collins. White leads UVU on the season with an average of 12.0 points per game, which she's upped to 16.8 per contest during league play, which ranks third in the WAC. 

The Wolverines are currently sixth in the WAC standings, one game back of Abilene Christian and two games behind Tarleton State and California Baptist in the loss column. 

Stafford Collins is the leading rebounder in the WAC overall, at 9.3 per contest. She also sits atop the WAC and among the nation's leaders in offensive rebounds per game, with her 4.3 average putting her 12th in the nation. As a team, the Wolverines continue to lead the WAC and rank fourth in the country with 13.9 steals per game. UVU is also eighth in the country with 23.7 turnovers forced per game, 32nd in offensive rebounds per game (14.3) and 29th in bench points per game (25.1). 

LAST TIME OUT
Utah Valley couldn't overcome its struggles from the field, falling 72-63 to Southern Utah on Saturday at Lockhart Arena. The Wolverines suffered one their worst shooting nights of the season, hitting just 29.2% (19-for-65) overall and 2-for-14 (14.3%) from the 3-point line. The Thunderbirds (6-19, 4-8) turned the ball over 27 times in the game, but outrebounded UVU 43-35 with SUU also collecting 11 blocks on the defensive end.

Utah Valley finished with 18 steals, six coming from White. Halle Nelson led the Wolverines with 11 points and 10 rebounds, Cambree Blackham added 10 points, and Danja Stafford Collins finished with eight points, nine rebounds, and three steals. SUU's Ava Uhrich led all scorers with 27 points while Dayena Ballena added 21. Both teams got to the line over 30 times, with Southern Utah going 25-for-31 and Utah Valley hitting 23-for-35 (65.7%) from the stripe.

ABOUT THE OPPOSITION
Utah Tech (5-18, 1-9) is in the midst of a seven-game losing streak, but its last two games came down to the wire before falling by three to Southern Utah and six to California Baptist.  

Emily Isaacson leads the Trailblazers at 13.1 per game while shooting 43.3% from beyond the arc. In WAC games, Isaacson is 32-for-64 (50%) from three as Utah Tech leads the WAC and ranks 14th in the country with 9.3 triples made per game. The Trailblazers also take more 3-pointers (29.6) than any other team in the WAC and rank sixth in the nation in that category.

UP NEXT
The Wolverines travel to Seattle U for a Saturday contest. Tip is scheduled for 1 p.m. PT/2 p.m. MT.