ARLINGTON, Texas – UT Arlington defeated Utah Valley, 59-47, on Saturday afternoon at College Park Center. Cambree Blackham led UVU (9-8, 2-4) with 17 points to tie a season-high for the sophomore guard. Kira Reynolds scored a game-high 16 points with 13 rebounds for UTA (8-10, 2-4).
 
Blackham led Utah Valley with 17 points and added three assists. Amanda Barcello contributed 13 points and grabbed five rebounds. Saige Gibb collected seven rebounds and made three steals. Gracie Sorenson scored six points and secured four rebounds.
 
Blackham scored a layup off a Barcello assist on UVU's first possession of the game to tie the game up early. Barcello continued to contribute, hitting a jumper to even the score at 4-4. Despite early turnovers, Utah Valley kept the game close through Barcello's seven points coming in the quarter, but UVU trailed 14-9 after the first.
 
Utah Valley began the second quarter with Gracie Sorenson knocking down a pair of jumpers to cut the UTA lead to 16-14 with 7:43 left in the first half. She finished with six points, the most the senior has scored in a WAC game this season. Blackham assisted on the second bucket from Sorenson and then scored four points of her own, including getting to the basket for a layup.
 
Utah Valley opened the third quarter with strategic play, capitalizing on UTA's turnovers to gain momentum. Barcello's pair of free throws at 8:11 helped narrow the gap.  Blackham added a critical 3-pointer at 5:49. UT Arlington responded each time the Wolverines looked to get some momentum and go on a run. Gibb finished with three steals in the contest as the Lady Mavs took care of the ball, only turning over 22 times, which tied a season-low for turnovers forced.
 
Utah Valley's defense answered the call in the fourth quarter, forcing 12 turnovers including recording four steals. UVU trailed 51-36 with 5:59 left in the game, when Barcello started a run for the Wolverines with a jumper. Kylee Mabry helped keep the run going and helped Utah Valley cut the deficit to eight at 53-48 with a pair of free throws and a layup on a fastbreak.
 
UP NEXT
Utah Valley returns home for its next game, three games starting with Southern Utah on Thursday, Jan. 22, at 6:00 p.m. MT inside the UCCU Center, before welcoming California Baptist on Saturday, Jan. 24, for a 2:00 p.m. MT tilt.