Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Utah Valley
'Cats pick up 61-56 win over UVU
12/12/2015 10:23:00 PM | Women's Basketball
OGDEN – Weber State made a fourth quarter comeback, Regina Okoye achieved a new career high in scoring, Jocelyn Adams a new career high in rebounding and the Wildcats claimed a 61-56 win over in-state rivals Utah Valley University Saturday afternoon.
“The key tonight was that the team kept their composure,” head coach Bethann Ord said. “They did a great job not forcing anything. We've had some success this season and I attribute everything to these girls. They work hard for us and do everything we ask.”
The fourth quarter started with a 44-44 score and was the best for the Wildcats. UVU went on a 6-0 run early in the fourth quarter making the Wildcats fight for a comeback. With 1:54 left in the game Weber State went on a 5-0 run taking a 58-53 lead. For the last four minutes of the game Weber State went on a 14-3 solidifying a 61-56 victory over Utah Valley.
“I told them going into that fourth quarter to keep working together, push and pick it up on defense” Ord said. “If we continued to work the ball we could succeed. They took care of each other and executed our offense.”
Weber State started the game off with an 11-2 lead but UVU then went six for six 6-6 to take a 15-14 lead at the end of the first quarter. Utah Valley started the second quarter with a 7-0 run taking a 22-14 lead. Later in the quarter WSU's Dionne Coe scored back to back three pointers bringing the score within one point at 25-26. A last second three pointer by Deeshyra Thomas gave the Wildcats a 34-32 lead going into halftime.
After a three minute scoring drought to start the third quarter Kailie Quinn drained one from beyond the arc. Utah Valley then went on a 7-0 run reclaiming the lead with a 40-37 score. A three pointer by Jaiamoni Welch-Coleman tied the game up at 42-42 with 3:01 left in the quarter.
Okoye had a career high of 24 points and her second double double on the season with 11 rebounds. Adams had a new career high of 13 rebounds. Coe contributed nine points for the Wildcats including two from beyond the arc and Quinn and Brittney Dunbar added seven each. Okoye also had four blocks and Dunbar had four steals.
Weber State shot 36.5 percent from the field and 30.8 percent from beyond the arc. The Wildcats were 58.3 from the free throw line. The lead changed 12 times throughout the game. Weber State had only 11 turnovers to UVU's 18. UVU shot 46.2 percent from the field and only 25 percent from the three. The Wolverines were 70 percent from the free throw line.
The Wildcats are now 7-2 on the season and will next hit the road to take on University of Washington on Dec. 21 before returning home Dec. 29 to play Westminster. Big Sky Conference play with start Jan. 2 at Idaho State.
