CEDAR CITY, Utah - After a tough stretch of Western Athletic Conference losses, the Southern Utah women's basketball team looks to turn things around on the road against Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 22. The 11-7 Thunderbirds completed an even first lap of the WAC, holding a 3-3 record, and the 9-8 Wolverines sit at 2-4 in the conference.
Head Coach Tracy Mason said:
"We've regrouped after a couple of tough games and are looking forward to getting back on the court Thursday. Our first-round game against UVU was tough and competitive, and I have no doubt this one will be similar. We need to limit our turnovers this time around and lock in defensively."
Game Details
Who: Southern Utah (11-7, 3-3 WAC) vs Utah Valley (9-8, 2-4 WAC)
When: Thursday, January 22, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: UCCU Center
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: HERE
Matchup History
- In their first matchup of the season on Jan. 8, the Thunderbirds fended off the Wolverines in a 76-68 win. Junior Ava Uhrich dominated the contest, racking up 16 rebounds, five assists, and 20 points while shooting 53.3% from the field.
The Thunderbirds
Despite a scorching start to WAC play, the Thunderbirds have fallen to the middle of the pack after playing each conference team once. They stand at 11-7 overall and 3-3 in the WAC, looking to snap their three-game losing streak against a Utah Valley University team that they've already proven they can beat.
Southern Utah will need to kick its high-scoring offense back into gear. Even with a couple of inefficient scoring games in a row, SUU averages 74.5 points, making them the second-highest offense in the WAC. They have been remarkably consistent at the top of the conference in rebounds (42.8 per game) and assists (15.3 per game).
Three Thunderbirds average over 10 points on the potent and well-rounded offense. Sophomore Sierra Chambers leads the way with 15.4 points per game, more than all but one player in the WAC. Juniors Ava Uhrich and Brooklyn Fely follow close behind with 13.4 and 10.8 points per game, respectively.
Uhrich leads the conference in rebounds per game with 9.8 and shoots at an impressively accurate 43.8% rate. Fely also lands in the top four WAC rebounders, with 7.9 per game.
Scouting Report
Utah Valley University Wolverines
The 9-8 Wolverines also ride a three-game losing streak into Thursday's matchup and sit only one game behind Southern Utah in the conference standings. After defeating Abilene Christian, who currently tops the WAC, UVU dropped games to Utah Tech and UT Arlington, the only teams in the conference with losing overall records.
While Utah Valley has struggled on offense, its defense has been phenomenal. Holding opposing teams to 59.7 points per game, the Wolverines lock down 16.9 steals per contest and average 24.4 points off turnovers.
Senior Amanda Barcello has been outstandingly accurate for UVU, totalling a team-high 14.3 points per game on 41.5% shooting from the perimeter. On the defensive side of the ball, sophomore Cambree Blackham and senior Saige Gibb are the only players in the WAC averaging three or more steals per game.
Tickets
Season tickets, mini packages, and single-game tickets are now available! Get yours today by visiting tbirdtickets.com.
Follow Us
For all the latest on Southern Utah women's basketball, follow @SUUWBasketball on Twitter and Instagram, and like the Southern Utah Women's Basketball Facebook page.
Donate
To help support Thunderbirds athletics, consider making a donation today! To learn more about how you can support, click here.
