OPENING TIP
Utah Valley University heads to Texas this week for a pivotal two-game trip starting on Thursday at UT Arlington at 6:30 p.m. CT/5:30 p.m. MT. The Wolverines (13-7, 5-3) will also play at Tarleton State on Saturday at 2 p.m. CT/1 p.m. MT. 

UVU is currently tied for third in the WAC standings with Tarleton State, with both at 5-3 at the midway point of the season. UT Arlington is second, at 7-1 in the WAC, with its only loss coming on Jan. 16 in Orem. 

Tahlia White leads the Wolverines at 10.8 points per game and is averaging 15.4 points during WAC games, which ranks fifth in the conference. Danja Stafford Collins ranks second in the WAC in rebounds per game (9.3) while leading the league in total rebounds (186) and offensive rebounds per game (4.4), which also ranks 10th in the nation. Halle Nelson, who scored a season-high 14 last time out against Grand Canyon, has started the last three games and is averaging 9.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game as a starter. 

As a team, the Wolverines continue to lead the WAC and rank third in the country with 14.0 steals per game. UVU is also seventh in the country wit5801Æ¿h 24.3 turnovers forced per game, 38th in offensive rebounds per game (14.2) and 26th in bench points per game (25.6). 

LAST TIME OUT
Utah Valley University jumped out to a fast start, but the bid to knock off WAC leaders Grand Canyon came up short, 76-64, in front of 1,313 fans on Saturday afternoon in Lockhart Arena. The Wolverines had four players reach double figures, led by 14 apiece from Tahlia White and Halle Nelson. Amanda Barcello finished with 12 and Ally Criddle had 10 points but dealt with foul trouble for much of the game. Danja Stafford Collins finished with seven points and 11 rebounds for UVU.

The teams were nearly even from the floor, with Grand Canyon making 50% (24-for-48) and Utah Valley shooting 23-for-49 (46.9%). The Lopes, however, were 7-for-15 from three and 21-for-26 from the line while the Wolverines hit just 2-for-16 from beyond the arc and 16-for-23 from the line.

ABOUT THE OPPOSITION
UT Arlington has won four straight entering Thursday's game. The Lady Mavs were also on a four-game win streak when they visited Orem on Jan. 16, which resulted in an 86-75 Utah Valley victory. The all-time series is tied 2-2 and Thursday's game will be just the second time the teams will meet in Arlington.

The Lady Mavs are led by Koi Love and Avery Brittingham. Love is second in the WAC with an average of 17.2 points per game while Brittingham is averaging 13.5 points and a WAC-leading 9.7 rebounds per game. Love has won the WAC's Newcomer of the Week seven times this season, including in six of the past seven weeks. The Lady Mavs swept the weekly awards this week, with Love earning the newcomer honor while Brittingham was named the WAC Player of the Week for the second time.

UP NEXT
The Wolverines will bus to Stephenville, Texas  for at Saturday afternoon contest at Tarleton State. Next week, UVU will host Southern Utah in the lone game of the week, on Feb. 15 in Lockhart Arena.