CEDAR CITY, Utah – After a two-game road trip to California to open the season, The Southern Utah University women's basketball team is set to take on Utah Valley in its home opener Tuesday night.
GAME INFO
Southern Utah vs Utah Valley
Date: November 16
Tip-off: 6:30 p.m. MT
Location: Cedar City, Utah
Venue: America First Event Center
TV: ESPN+
Radio: 91.1 FM
Live Stream | Live Stats | Tickets | Southern Utah Notes (PDF) | Utah Valley Notes (PDF)
ABOUT UTAH VALLEY (1-1)
-Utah Valley opened the season with a 90-47 victory over Park University before falling to Fresno State 71-62. Tuesday's matchup in Cedar City will mark UVU's first road test of the 2021-22 campaign.
-The Wolverines competed in the NCAA tournament last season with WAC champ Cal Baptist being ineligible in only its third year transitioning to Division I.
-In the WAC preseason poll, Utah Valley was picked to finish the season third by the media and fourth by the coaches.
-Maria Carvalho leads UVU with 21.5 points per game so far. Josie Williams is not far behind with an average of 15 points per game.
LAST TIME OUT
Junior guard Madelyn Eaton scored 26 points, but it was not enough as the Southern Utah University women's basketball team went on to fall to UC Irvine, 81-65, Thursday night at Bren Events Center.
The setback dropped Southern Utah to 0-2 on the season while the Anteaters improved to 2-0.
Eaton's performance was one of a few bright spots for the Thunderbirds. The Highland, Utah native shot an impressive 11-of-17 from the floor on the night, including a 2-of-4 clip from 3-point range. Eaton also chipped in two rebounds, a pair of assists and one steal.
SUU played Irvine tough for three quarters, but it was the second quarter that gave the Anteaters enough separation to comfortably cruise to a victory. After leading 18-15 at the end of the first quarter, the 'Eaters claimed a 30-18 advantage in the second quarter to lead by 15 at halftime.
The Thunderbirds got off to a promising start with a 5-0 run to open the game. Kinsley Barrington scored back-to-back buckets, followed by a free throw from Cherita Daugherty before UCI was able to get any points on the board. The teams proceeded to trade leads for the remainder of the quarter until the score was tied at 15 apiece, then the Anteaters claimed the lead and never looked back.
After Eaton's 26 points, Daugherty was the other T-Bird in double figures with 10. Daugherty and Darri Dotson led the rebounding efforts for SUU with six apiece, while three-different Thunderbirds registered three assists each.
NOTES AND QUOTES
-Tuesday's contest between in-state rivals Southern Utah and Utah Valley will be a preview of many intriguing games to come with the Thunderbirds set to join UVU in the WAC next season.
-The Wolverines claimed victory in the last meeting between the two schools in the form of a 58-47 decision on their home floor. Southern Utah's last win against Utah Valley took place in 2019 when the T-Birds visited Orem and secured a 71-58 victory. The last meeting between the two schools in Cedar City was in Tracy Sanders' first year as head coach. The Thunderbirds narrowly put away the Wolverines, earning a 60-59 win at the America First Event Center.
-UVU is the first of three WAC schools Southern Utah will face this season, the other two being UTRGV and rival Dixie State.
-Madelyn Eaton and Cherita Daugherty are both averaging double figure scoring for SUU to date. Eaton has scored 18.0 points per game thus far while Daugherty has dropped in 11.5 per contest.
-Eaton is the Big Sky's leader in made field goals with 11 through two games. Her 26 points at UC Irvine were the third most individually in a single game in the Big Sky so far this season.
"UC Irvine is a tough team that is going to be at the top of their conference. You have to come out ready to defend and hit shots against a team like that. I thought we played a much better second half. Some of our bench came in and gave some solid minutes."
-Head Coach Tracy Sanders after falling at UC Irvine
"The ladies have been hard at work and are so excited to take the floor this November. We have some great games in our preseason with several WAC opponents as well as Colorado here in Cedar City. The Big Sky Conference will be tough as usual with some talented new coaches in the league. We just can't wait to start the season."
-Sanders on the release of the 2021-22 schedule
"I am so proud to call Southern Utah University and Cedar City home. It has been an incredible three years and I'm so excited about the direction of our program. We have some extremely talented players that have bought into both the vision and the culture of Southern Utah women's basketball. I'd like to thank Athletic Director Debbie Corum and Deputy Athletic Director Sonia Hahn for their continued support of our program and the opportunity they have given me to continue doing what I love alongside an incredible staff here at Southern Utah University."
-Sanders on her contract extension
"We are thrilled that Tracy will be leading our program for years to come. The improvement her teams have shown each year since she joined the Thunderbird family has been evident. Her players have excelled both on the court and in the classroom, and we are confident in her ability to take the program to new heights in the coming years."
-Southern Utah Athletic Director Debbie Corum on Sanders' contract extension
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