OREM, Utah – Utah Valley women's basketball won the second of three games in the Old Hammer Rivalry with a 58-55 victory over Utah Tech on Thursday night at Lockhart Arena.
The Wolverines (11-12, 4-8) had four players score in double figures, led by
Kaylee Headrick with 14 points and six rebounds. Her layup with two seconds remaining sealed the win for UVU. Brie Crittendon led all scorers with 18 points for Utah Tech (6-16, 1-11).
Amanda Barcello added 12 points and went 9-for-10 from the free-throw line. Utah Valley finished 25-for-27 (92.6%) at the line, just outside the Top-10 in the school record book for free throw percentage in a game.
Gracie Sorenson scored 12 points for a season high, finishing two points shy of her career best set against Bethesda in 2024.
Cambree Blackham chipped in 10 points, six assists, and four steals.
"I'm proud of our fight tonight," said UVU head coach
Dan Nielson. "We had a tough time shooting the ball, but I thought we really defended well in the fourth quarter and made some key free throws down the stretch. It was good to get back home, get a win, and hopefully build some momentum for the last few games."
Utah Valley forced seven turnovers in the first quarter and took an early lead when Headrick finished an alley-oop from Blackham for the game's first basket. Headrick later added a pair of free throws with 4:32 remaining in the quarter to make it 7-6 Utah Tech. Sorenson sparked the Wolverines late in the opening period with a jumper to briefly put UVU in front. After a Trailblazers response, Barcello knocked down a 3-pointer for the 127th of her career, moving her within one of Rebecca Mawhinney for fourth on Utah Valley's all-time list.
Blackham tied the game at 20 with just under eight minutes left in the second quarter with a 3-pointer from the wing. She later tied it again with her second triple of the period this time from the corner to make it 27-all with 4:35 remaining. Sorenson scored the final six of Utah Valley's points of the first half to tie the game at 33 heading to halftime.
Halle Nelson converted a 3-point play early in the third quarter to give Utah Tech a 38-35 lead. She finished with seven points and ten boards, including five offensive for the UVU attack. Utah Valley continued to attack inside and capitalized at the free throw line, going 11-for-13 in the period. The Trailblazers went ahead 46-42 with 1:56 left in the third before UVU trimmed the deficit to 48-46 entering the fourth.
Headrick opened the fourth quarter with a long 2-pointer, stepping just inside the line. Utah Valley pulled within one twice on Headrick jumpers and called a timeout after she grabbed a long rebound with 2:24 remaining, trailing 55-54.
Barcello gave the Wolverines the lead with a pair of free throws, going up 56-55 with 45 seconds left. The Trailblazers had the ball with under 30 seconds left when Blackham forced a turnover. Utah Tech found themselves with possession immediately after a UVU turnover, but Barcello stepped in to take charge of Kaylee Borden with 4.1 seconds left. After advancing the ball, Headrick made a cut right to the basket for a layup to seal the victory as Utah Tech's final heave was offline.
UP NEXT
Utah Valley travels to first-place California Baptist on Wednesday, Feb. 18, for a 7:00 p.m. tipoff from the Fowler Events Center. It will be the third and final time this regular season for the Wolverines and Lancers to square off. The Wolverines return home to the UCCU Center on Saturday, Feb. 21, for UT Arlington, with tipoff scheduled for 1:00 p.m. MT.
