BOZEMAN, Mont. - Nov. 28 - Southern Utah recorded more points (36-31) and a better shooting percentage (50.0-47.8) during the final 20 minutes of the game, but the Thunderbirds were unable to come away with a victory as SUU suffered a 68-54 loss to the Utah Valley Wolverines in the consolation game of the Bobcat Basketball Classic on Saturday night.  The T-Birds drop to 0-6 with the loss, while UVU move to 3-5 with the victory.

SUU was down early as the Wolverines opened the game with a 7-0 run over the course of the first four minutes of the contest.  The Thunderbirds trimmed the lead to three (13-10) on a Chanel Thorley layup with 8:50 on the clock, but UVU countered with back-to-back 3-pointers and a pair of free throws to take the first double-digit lead of the game at 21-10.

More long-range baskets by UVU down the stretch put the lead at 37-18 going into the locker rooms as the Wolverines closed the first half on a 12-2 run.

Southern Utah began the second half with a 9-2 run as Challis Pascucci paired a couple of jumpers with a block, bringing the game to within 13 (39-26).  The Thunderbirds pulled the game to 54-43 as Jadie Parson's layup trimmed the deficit to 11 with six minutes to play, but it was as close as Southern Utah came in the game.  Stephanie Sampson's 3-point basket with 37 seconds remaining in the game marked the final points in the contest in the 68-54 defeat.

Pascucci led the Thunderbirds with 14 points and 11 rebounds, but was joined in double figures in points by Caitlin Sears with ten.  UVU's Julie Smith led all players with 26 points during the contest.

SUU will return home to face the Ohio Bobcats on Tuesday night before taking the first conference road trip of the season at Oral Roberts and Centenary over the weekend.