CEDAR CITY, Utah - With a first-round bye in the Western Athletic Conference hanging in the balance, the Southern Utah women's basketball team will remain on the road for a battle with Utah Valley University on Thursday, March 5, at 6:00 p.m.

Head Coach Tracy Mason said:

"This is an important week of WAC play for a lot of teams. We're focused on the things we have control over. Playing UVU on the road is always a tough matchup, and they're playing really good basketball right now. We understand how important this next game is for us, and that is where we are focused."

Game Details

Who: Southern Utah (19-9, 11-5 WAC) vs Utah Valley (14-13, 7-9 WAC)

When: Thursday, March 5, at 6:00 p.m.

Where: UCCU Center, Orem, Utah

Watch: ESPN+

Live Stats: HERE

Matchup History

• The Thunderbirds hold a 22-10 all-time record against the Wolverines and have won seven of their last eight matchups.
• In their first meeting with UVU on Jan. 8 in Cedar City, Southern Utah earned a 76-68 win with one of their most accurate games of the season. SUU shot 52.8% from the field and a scorching 57.9% from three, and junior Ava Uhrich racked up 16 rebounds, five assists, and 20 points.
• On the road for their second contest with the Wolverines, the Thunderbirds earned a much more defensive 64-60 win. Sophomore Sierra Chambers played the full 40 minutes and scored a team-high 16 points.

The Thunderbirds

The 19-8 Thunderbirds snapped their second four-game winning streak of the conference season with a loss to Utah Tech last Saturday. Standing at an 11-5 WAC record, there are a variety of ways that the season can shake out. If SUU wins its final two games, it will secure, at worst, the second spot in the standings and a postseason bye.

As Southern Utah tries to secure wins in its final two contests and carry its momentum into the postseason, it will aim to uncork a top-tier offense that ranks among the best in the conference. They lead the WAC in points scored per game with 73.4 and assists per game with 15.3. The Thunderbirds have also been incredibly accurate, shooting a WAC-high 42.8% from the field and a conference-leading 32.8% from the perimeter. 

While their offense has been fantastic, dominance under the glass has been SUU's key advantage throughout the season. Averaging a 42-rebound mark that ranks 15th in the nation, the Thunderbirds repeatedly earn second-chance opportunities while preventing their opponents from doing the same.

With an extremely well-rounded and evenly-spread team, Southern Utah boasts three scorers in the WAC's top 10 and two rebounders in the conference's top three. Uhrich and junior Brooklyn Fely captain the team's paint efforts with 9.8 and 8.7 rebounds, respectively. The two have combined for 19 double-doubles — more than any entire team in the WAC.

Averaging 15.2 points (fifth in WAC) and 3.8 assists per game (fourth in WAC), Chambers has led the scoring effort and passing game throughout the year. Freshman Devyn Kiernan adds a significant threat at the perimeter, ranking fourth in the conference with 48 triples in the 2025-2026 campaign.

Scouting Report

Utah Valley Wolverines

Although the 14-13 Wolverines hold only a 7-9 conference record, they are winners of four of their last five games and hold significant momentum as they inch towards the postseason. 

While Utah Valley has struggled on offense, its defense has been phenomenal. Holding opposing teams to a quiet 60.9 points per game, the Wolverines rack up 15.3 steals per contest and average 22.3 points off turnovers.

Senior Amanda Barcello has earned the title of UVU's leading scorer, totalling 14.3 points per game. On the defensive side of the ball, five separate Wolverines average more than two steals per game and all rank in the WAC's top eight.

Tickets

Season tickets, mini packages, and single-game tickets are now available! Get yours today by visiting tbirdtickets.com.

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