Nov. 19, 2012

UVU Game Notes

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The Utah Valley University women's basketball team will conclude its week-long Northern California road trip Tuesday evening at Sacramento State. The Wolverines will then return home to host Long Beach State on Friday afternoon.

The Last Meeting Utah Valley 43 Long Beach State 75 November 11, 2011 Long Beach, California Wolverines Drop Season Opener at Long Beach State Utah Valley hung around with Long Beach State for 30 minutes in its season opener Friday night in Southern California but a late 29-8 run propelled the 49ers to a 75-43 victory. Recap | Box Score

"We're really hoping for at least one win on this trip. We'll come prepared and ready to play Sacramento State on Tuesday," said UVU head coach Cathy Nixon. "These kids are a joy to coach and work very hard. Hopefully we'll be able to break through with a win."

Live audio can be heard for both games by visiting WolverineGreen.com. Fans can also access live video and stats for Tuesday's contest by visiting HornetSports.com and WolverineGreen.com for Friday's game.

UVU is 1-3 on the season and is winless during its current three-game road trip in California's Bay Area. The Wolverines began the trip with a 81-72 setback at San Jose State last Thursday and followed it with a 80-67 loss at Santa Clara this past Saturday. The Wolverines' lone win came over in-state rival and Preseason WAC favorite Utah State at home on Nov 12.

A slow start by the Wolverines last Thursday doomed UVU's chances against the Spartans. The Wolverines fell behind by 21 points to SJSU in the first half and couldn't overcome the deficit despite 20 points and 14 rebounds from senior Sammie Jensen.

On Saturday, UVU found itself trailing Santa Clara by just six at halftime. But a 10-0 run by the Broncos to start the second half proved costly, as the Wolverines once again couldn't overcome the double-digit deficit as they fell by 13. Senior Kaycee Mansfield led the way for UVU in the contest with a career-high 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the field and 5-for-5 from the charity stripe.

Jensen, the reigning Great West Conference Player of the Year, leads the Wolverines on the season. The senior forward has recorded a double-double in each of the four games and averages 19.8 points and 13.3 rebounds per game. Mansfield is second on the team in both scoring and rebounding with 12.8 ppg and 5.5 rpg.

About Sacramento State
Sacramento State is 1-2 on the season and is coming off of a 79-72 victory at CSU Bakersfield last weekend. Tuesday will be the Hornets home-opener after beginning the season with three straight road games.

Sac State is led on the season by Alle Moreno and her 14.7 point per game average. Fantasia Hilliard is right behind her with an average of 13.7 ppg and 7.7 apg.

Tuesday's game is the first all-time meeting between the Wolverines and Hornets in women's basketball. Sacramento State went 13-19 a year ago and was picked to finish seventh in the Big Sky this year.

About Long Beach State
The 49ers are coming off of 71-62 home victory over Washington last Sunday and will bring a 2-2 record with them to Orem after they also defeated Sacramento State in their opener. Long Beach State went 14-18 a year ago and was picked to finish to fifth in the Big West Preseason Poll.

Alex Sanchez is Long Beach State's leading scorer with an average of 13.3 points per game. She is also the 49ers top rebounder with an average of 6.5 boards per game.

Friday with mark the second all-time meeting between UVU and LBSU with the 49ers holding the 1-0 advantage after they defeated the Wolverines 75-43 in Long Beach last year.

Up Next for the Wolverines
UVU will head back on the road next week when it travels to Tusla, Okla. to take on Tulsa on Nov. 29. The Wolverines will then travle onto Vermillion, S.D. to face former Great West foe South Dakota on Dec. 1.