OREM, Utah – Utah Valley women's basketball opens the 2026 Air Force Reserve WAC Basketball Tournament on Thursday, March 12, as the No. 4 seed and will meet No. 5 seed Tarleton State. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. MT/noon PT from Orleans Arena.
 
BROADCAST INFO
The entire WAC Tournament will air on ESPN+, with Saturday's championship game switching to ESPNU. Chris Mycoskie (play-by-play) and Brandi Poole (analyst) will have the call on Thursday, with Kendra Sheehan reporting from the sidelines. Fans can follow live stats, the bracket, and more on the WAC Tournament Central page at WACSports.org.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Wolverines enter WAC Vegas as one of the hottest teams in the league after winning six of their final seven games, including a sweep of Southern Utah and Utah Tech this past weekend. UVU sent seven seniors out on a high note during the final weekend, led by 17 points from Kylee Mabry on Saturday against Utah Tech. Mabry finished 5-of-9 from the field while adding eight rebounds and five assists.
 
Three Wolverines scored in double figures in Thursday night's 74-53 win over Southern Utah. Kaylee Headrick scored 17 points, Amanda Barcello added 12, and Cambree Blackham finished with 11. All three recorded at least five steals in the game. UVU totaled 25 steals in the contest, the third-most in program single-game history and the most against a Division I opponent.
 
Halle Nelson finished with nine points, six steals, and five rebounds, while Gracie Sorenson added eight points and four rebounds.
 
SCOUTING TARLETON STATE
Thursday's matchup will mark the fourth meeting between the Wolverines and Texans this season, with UVU holding a 3-0 advantage.
 
All-WAC Second Team selection Jakoriah Long leads Tarleton State with an average of 12 points per game and was limited to single digits in two of the three meetings against Utah Valley this season. Freshman center Elodie Lutbert, a 6-foot-7 post, earned All-WAC Defensive and Freshman Team honors and is averaging 10.1 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.
 
The Wolverines have forced 20 or more turnovers in all three meetings this season, including 29 in the first matchup in January. Offensively, UVU shot over 40% in all three games and will look to continue generating quality looks.
 
SERIES HISTORY AGAINST THE TEXANS
Utah Valley will play Tarleton State for the first time on a neutral floor and for the first time in the WAC Tournament. It will be the sixth meeting between the teams since January 2025, with the Wolverines winning five of the last six. Utah Valley leads the all-time series 9-3.
 
WAC TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Utah Valley is 5-11 all-time in the WAC Tournament and will look to reach the semifinals in back-to-back seasons for the third time in program history and the second time under head coach Dan Nielson.
 
The Wolverines are seeking their first appearance in the WAC Championship game. UVU has faced two current WAC teams in the tournament field, holding a 1-0 record against ACU in WAC Vegas and a 0-1 mark against Utah Tech.
 
BLACKHAM EARNS ALL-WAC HONORS
Utah Valley sophomore guard Cambree Blackham earned All-WAC honors Tuesday as voted on by the league's coaches. The Lehi, Utah, native has been a two-way contributor for the Wolverines this season, averaging a career-high 9.5 points and 4.2 assists per game.
 
Defensively, she is averaging 2.8 steals per game with 81 steals during the 2025-26 season, setting the UVU single-season record.
 
UP NEXT
A Wolverine win Thursday would send Utah Valley to the first semifinal Friday afternoon against No. 1 seed California Baptist. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. MT/noon PT on ESPN+.