OREM, Utah — Utah Valley defeated Tarleton State 74-49 on Thursday afternoon inside the UCCU Center. Amanda Barcello scored 15 points to lead UVU (8-5, 1-1). The Wolverines pulled away by shooting 60% in the third quarter and going 3 of 4 from 3-point range. Tarleton State (7-6, 1-1) committed 29 turnovers and was led by Shadasia Brackens, who scored nine points.
Tessa Chaney added 14 points and six rebounds for the Wolverines, while Kaylee Headrick also scored in double figures with 10 points. 12 different players scored for Utah Valley in the contest and all 13 players saw time on the floor.

"I was really proud of our response today after not playing well on Monday," Utah Valley head coach Dan Nielson said. "I thought we set the tone defensively and had balanced offense that made it harder to guard us. That was a much-needed win against a good team."

Utah Valley took an early 5-2 lead on a 3-pointer from Cambree Blackham before Tarleton State responded and went ahead 9-7 with 2:19 left in the opening quarter. In her third start of the season, Saige Gibb sparked a 5-0 run with a 3-pointer before forcing a steal on the next possession and finishing a layup to put UVU back in front 12-9. Headrick's basket with six seconds remaining gave Utah Valley a 14-13 lead after one.

Headrick opened the second quarter with a pair of baskets, including a driving pull-up jumper, before adding a free-throw line jumper to extend the lead to 18-13. Utah Valley pushed the advantage to seven following a 3-pointer from Kylee Mabry and a layup from Halle Nelson. The Texans answered with a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to one at 23-22 with 3:07 remaining before halftime, but the Wolverines responded with inside baskets from Chaney and Nelson. Blackham then found Barcello on the wing in transition, where she knocked down a 3-pointer and drew a foul to complete a four-point play, sending UVU into halftime with a 34-27 lead.

Utah Valley opened the second half with a 12-0 run over 3:44 to pull away. Blackham began the stretch with a three-point play as part of her nine-point effort, while also adding six assists and four steals. The run extended the lead to 21 after baskets from Nelson, Gracie Sorenson and Headrick capped the surge with 3:03 left in the third quarter. After Tarleton State trimmed the margin to 15 late in the quarter, Barcello and KJ Carlyle hit back-to-back 3-pointers to push the lead back to 21.
 
The Wolverines began the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run, highlighted by a 3-pointer from Barcello and consecutive baskets from Chaney in the paint, stretching the lead to 65-40 with 6:47 remaining. Utah Valley's defense limited Tarleton State to 27% shooting in the fourth quarter and forced eight turnovers. Gaby Goo and Anna Shreeve each recorded baskets late in the game off the bench for UVU

UP NEXT
Utah Valley closes out the opening weekend of conference play by hosting Abilene Christian on Saturday, Jan. 3, at 2 p.m. MT at the UCCU Center.