In a low-scoring nailbiter, the Southern Utah University women’s basketball team came away with a win against Utah Valley University in Orem on Thursday, Jan. 22. Thanks to a combination of defense and late-game drive, SUU pulled off the 64-60 victory.
With the triumph, Southern Utah holds a 12-7 record and snapped a three-game losing streak. They’re tied for third in the Western Athletic Conference with a 4-3 standing.
UVU fell to a 9-9 record and have lost four in a row. They’re tied for fifth in the WAC with a rocky 2-5 start to conference play.
First quarter
The Thunderbirds didn’t score through the first four minutes, but their defense made all the difference over the next stretch. SUU then scored nine straight points before Gracie Sorenson facilitated seven points to tie the game again.
The teams traded a one-point lead over the final few minutes. Cambree Blackham got a three-point play to end the quarter as UVU led 18-14 going into the break.
Both teams were playing an unorthodox brand of basketball this game. SUU and UVU combined to go 1-8 from three while going 12-19 from inside the arc in the first quarter.
Second quarter
Southern Utah started slow again, missing both shots in the first three minutes and committing three turnovers. Morgan Trigueiro subbed in and immediately hit a three to cut the lead to five, but UVU battled back and threatened a double-digit advantage.
A four-point swing by Ashley Banks at the end of the half brought the T-Birds within two points. Utah Valley hit a last-second layup to lead 30-26 at the break, but SUU was showing they had the heart and competitive spirit needed to eke out a win.
Third quarter
Unlike in the first two quarters, SUU got the lead out early and tied the game within one and a half minutes. Unfortunately, they had just one made field goal over the next seven minutes.
Over that time, the Thunderbirds missed five shots and turned the ball over six times. However, the Wolverines weren’t able to capitalize on SUU’s cold stretch. Sierra Chambers brought the T-Birds within one point on her first three of the night as less than two minutes remained.
Banks played some more valuable minutes, giving SUU the lead with free throws. Despite two more turnovers from the T-Birds over the final minute, they held onto the 41-40 lead going into the break.
Fourth quarter
Both teams came out with a similar gameplan. Blackham and Trigueiro exchanged three-pointers before UVU missed three straight shots from deep over the next few minutes.
Continuing their similar play, the teams turned the ball over in five consecutive possessions with no shot attempts. They then battled in the paint, growing and shrinking the lead until UVU took a one-point lead with less than five minutes left.
This quarter was far more physical and foul-heavy than the others. Six of SUU’s next eight points came at the free-throw line, and they led by five with just over a minute to go.
UVU cut the lead with a layup, but weren’t able to get a shot off for almost the rest of the game. SUU hit a dagger at the free-throw line, walking away with an important 64-60 win over their in-state rivals.
Key stats
— SUU had a loose handle on the ball, turning it over 25 times compared to UVU’s 12. The Wolverines had 17 steals while the T-Birds had just four.
— SUU shot 29.4% from three. Excluding Chambers, who went 1-8, the team shot 4-9 from deep.
— SUU took huge advantage of fouls. They went 19-22 from the free-throw line while UVU went 6-8.
— SUU had 40 rebounds to UVU’s 22.
Top T-Birds
— Banks had one of her top games of the year with eight points, five rebounds and two blocks in 13 minutes off the bench.
— Chambers led the team with 16 points and tied a team lead with four assists. She also had two rebounds and a steal and played all 40 minutes.
— Brooklyn Fely had another efficient game, recording 12 points, nine rebounds, an assist, a block and a steal in less than 30 minutes. She led all players with five offensive boards.
— Devyn Kiernan had six points, four assists and three rebounds in the second-highest minute total of her career.
— Ava Uhrich dominated the glass again, notching 12 rebounds, nine points, two assists and a steal.
What’s next?
The T-Birds will return home for a three-game homestand this weekend. They’ll first face Utah Tech University on Saturday, Jan. 24 at 2 p.m. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
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Author: Payson Davis
Photographer: SUU Athletics
