CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Southern Utah women's basketball team will take on a defensively dominant Utah Valley team in a home showdown on Jan. 8 at 6:30 p.m. The 10-4 Thunderbirds will look to remain undefeated in Western Athletic Conference play as they take on the 9-5 Wolverines in the America First Event Center.
Head Coach Tracy Mason said:
"UVU is a strong team, and we know we need to be as prepared as possible to be successful against their defense. Taking care of the ball will be key in making this a competitive matchup."
Game Details
Who: Southern Utah (10-4, 2-0 WAC) vs Utah Valley (9-5, 2-1 WAC)
When: Thursday, January 8, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: America First Event Center
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: HERE
Matchup History
- SUU holds a 20-10 all-time record against the Wolverines, having split their WAC matchups last season. The Thunderbirds won the first game 72-63 thanks to a dominant 27-point night by now-junior Ava Uhrich, but they lost the second in a defensive 53-48 contest.
The Thunderbirds
Despite being picked last in the WAC preseason rankings, Southern Utah is one of two teams to open conference play undefeated. SUU's 2-0 start in the WAC has boosted them to a 10-4 overall record that places them at the top of the conference standings. The last time the Thunderbirds reached double-digit wins, they also earned the WAC Championship and a bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Southern Utah also tops the WAC offensively, posting a conference-high 77.1 points per game. Scorching shooting accuracy in all facets of the game — 42.4% from the field, 33.3% from three, and a WAC-leading 73.1% from the free-throw line — has significantly factored into their success, but the value of their strong passing game and an incredible offensive rebounding effort cannot be understated.
The Thunderbirds average 15.8 assists per game and a conference-high 14.7 offensive rebounds, contributing to their dominant +10.8 rebounding margin.
This rebounding effort has been captained by juniors Ava Uhrich and Brooklyn Fely, two of the WAC's top three rebounders, with 8.9 and 8.7 rebounds per game, respectively. Each of them has notched five double-doubles and averages more than 10 points per game.
However, it is sophomore Sierra Chambers who has emerged as the team's most prolific scorer. Ranking second in the conference with 15.9 points per game, the young star has been strong from the field and unshakeable from the charity stripe. Her 89.5% accuracy from the free-throw line this season ranks first in the WAC and third in the nation among those with at least 70 attempts.
Scouting Report
Utah Valley Wolverines
The 9-5 Wolverines have lost only to the powerhouse California Baptist Lancers since starting conference play. Coming off a tight 69-67 win over Abilene Christian, they enter their matchup with Southern Utah at 2-1 in the WAC.
While Utah Valley's offense has been relatively quiet, its defense has smothered opposing teams this season. Holding opponents to a quiet 58.1 points per game, their defense has generated an incredible conference-high 17.3 steals per game. They've been extremely successful at taking advantage of these opportunities, scoring an average of 25.1 points off turnovers.
Senior Amanda Barcellos leads the Thunderbirds offense in scoring with 13.9 points per game, but the presence of sophomore Cambree Blackham at the guard position is difficult to overlook. Blackham ranks third in the conference in assists per game with 4.5 and first in steals with an outstanding average of 3.3.
Tickets
Season tickets, mini packages, and single-game tickets are now available! Get yours today by visiting tbirdtickets.com.
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