March 7, 2008

Box Score

EDINBURG, Texas - After a quick start, Utah Valley scored just 23 points over the final 28 minutes and lost 76-53 to CSU Bakersfield at the Division I Independent Championships on Friday.

The Wolverines (16-11) led 28-13 after a Susie Cornejo jumper with 8:39 remaining in the first half. From there the Roadrunners (12-16) closed the half on a 23-2 run to take a 37-30 lead at the break.

Foul trouble hampered the Wolverines and helped Bakersfield as Sandy Marvin and Julie McMurray each picked up three fouls in the first half and Robyn Fairbanks was limited to just seven first half minutes after picking up her second foul early.

The 'Runners shot just 11-for-33 (33.3 percent) in the first half but were able to capitalize by hitting 14-of-17 from the free throw line.

The second half played out much like the last eight minutes of the first for the Wolverines, as UV hit just 7-for-26 from the field. After hitting their first three attempts of the second, two by Fairbanks and one by Marvin, Utah Valley made just four of its final 23 attempts to finish the game.

Bakersfield hit 16-of-31 (51.6 percent) in the second half and led by as much as 24 late in the contest to win its second game in three tries this season against the Wolverines.

Fairbanks was the only Utah Valley player in double figures as she finished with 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting. Naomi Johnson led Bakersfield with 20 points while Christine Kepenekian had 15 points, 12 rebounds and three steals. Kelley Tarver chipped in 18 for CSUB.

Overall, Utah Valley hit just 33.3 percent from the field for the game, which is the second lowest shooting percentage of the season. 53 points is also the second lowest point total of the year.

The Wolverines will close out the season on Saturday at either 2:30pm MT or 4:30pm MT depending on the final game of the day between NJIT and Texas-Pan American.