LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Amanda Barcello and Tahlia White combined to score 50 points to lead Utah Valley University to a 75-65 win over Abilene Christian University at the 2025 WAC Tournament at Orleans Arena.

White had 26 points, while Barcello finished with a career-high 24, hitting 6-for-8 from three. White also made four 3-pointers as the two combined to go 10-for-13 from beyond the arc. The win also set a new program record for wins in a season in Utah Valley's NCAA Division I era and sets up a semifinal game against top-seed Grand Canyon on Friday at noon PT.

Danja Stafford Collins added 10 points and nine rebounds, Halle Nelson finished with seven points and four blocked shots, and Ally Criddle had six points and nine assists as the Wolverines (18-11) got 73 of their 75 points from the starting lineup. Emma Troxell had 20 to lead the Wildcats (20-12).

Utah Valley set the defensive tone right out of the chute, turning the Wildcats over on the game's first three possessions and not allowing an attempt from the field for over two minutes to begin the contest. Four different players scored early for UVU as the team raced out to a 9-0 lead to force an ACU timeout at the 6:35 mark of the opening quarter.

Barcello made it 11-0 with her second basket before the Wildcats got on the board on a layup from Meredith Mayes over five minutes in. Natalia Chavez hit a three to trim it to 11-5, but that was answered by a 3-pointer from White and Utah Valley took a 16-7 lead after one.

Barcello took over in the final 1:20 of the half, hitting three consecutive 3-pointers, capped by a 4-point play on the final make when she was fouled on the shot. The lead jumped from 26-18 to 36-18 with Barcello's 10 points in just over one minute. She had 17 at the half.

Out of the break, the shots continued to drop for the Wolverines from long distance. White hit a three from the top of the arc on the first possession, and Barcello answered a Bella Earle three with her fifth triple of the game to give Utah Valley a 42-21 lead.

Abilene Christian scored seven straight points, with Troxell's 3-pointer trimming UVU's lead to 42-28. Criddle stopped that run with a floater and a free throw to complete a 3-point play.
Payton Hull hit back-to-back 3-pointers for ACU to start a 13-3 run that got the Wildcats within eight, 49-41, with 1:50 remaining in the third. Barcello again had an answer, beating the buzzer with her sixth three as UVU closed the quarter with seven of the last nine points to take a 58-44 lead into the fourth.

The Wildcats had one last run in them in the fourth, scoring six straight points to get within eight, 62-54, midway through the quarter. Stafford Collins buried a three to beat the shot clock with 4:20 left to answer the run and push it back to 11.

Utah Valley went 25-for-51 (49%) overall from the field, 11-for-24 (45.8%) from beyond the arc, and 14-of-18 from the line. ACU was 20-for-55 (36.4%) overall, 8-for-26 (30.8%) from three, and 17-for-22 from the line. The Wolverines had a 35-30 edge in rebounding and didn't allow an offensive rebound in the second half after surrendering 16 to the Wildcats in the first half.