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Show MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2008 Sports: Year in Review Julie McMurray 15.3 ppg • THE COLLEGE TIMES B7_ Sandy Marvin 15.2 ppg Ken Hoglund / College Times Robyn Fairbanks 23.8 ppg Triple the pleasure Trio of women's basketball players helping make D-I jump a little easier—and the best part is they are all back next year. Matt Beaudin 2007-08 at a glance Record 16-12 Honors Independent Player of the Year: Robyn Fairbanks AP Ail-American Hono rable mention: Robyn Fairbanks Independent Coach of the Year: Cathy Nixon First team All-Independent: Robyn Fairbanks and Sandy Marvin Second team All-Independent: Julie McMurray Aisist.ini sports editor With players like Robyn Fairbanks. Sandy Marvin, and Julie McMurray, it's no wonder the women's basketball team has been able to break the record for wins. Of course, the road struggles still need to be addressed before Utah Valley really makes some noise, but Fairbanks is already opening eyes of those who never knew about the Wolverines. Utah Valley finished 16-12, a win better than last year, with Fairbanks taking the lead role for the third straight year. Her 23.8 points a game was fourth best in the country, and she added 9.7 rebounds a game. If that wasn't enough, Fairbanks also showed her durability as the only player to play in every game this season. Of course, she wasn't without help. McMurray, a sophomore forward, and Marvin, a junior guard, were also vital to the team's success. McMurray was the team's second leading scorer at 15.3 points per game, and Marvin was third in I l l S h o r t : An eight HighlightiAhaf Lowlight: Head game winning streak started time against Seton Hall, Utah ing into the Independent tour- the season off with hopes of Valley trailed by 12. Behind 39 nament, there was high hopes getting into the national spot- points from Robyn Fairbanks of coming away with a cham- light. But then the road woes the Wolverines came from be- pionship but the team lost all hit. The team lost its final 12 hind to win 78-73 in overtime. three games. games away from the McKay Center. scoring with 15.2 points per game. The three helped Utah Valley to a 12-0 home record with impressive wins over Seton Hall, Gonzaga and Nevada. They also beat less talented teams such as NJIT, Cal State Bakersfield and Texas Pan American fairly handily. But even these three couldn't get in complete rhythm on the road. It didn't matter where the team piayed early in the season, as it won eight straight, including three road games. But they didn't win another road game the rest of the year. "A big part is consistency," said coach Cathy Nixon. "It takes consistency to win at this level." While the Wolverines executed consistently at home, they were consistently executed on the road. Utah Valley defeated Texas Pan-American at home by 18 points but lost by seven at the Broncs' gymIt was the same story against the New Jersey Institute of Technology and Cal State Bakersfield. On a neutral court, things weren't any better as the team finished just 1-3 and lost two neutral-court games in the Independent tournament. Nevertheless, with the majority of the offensive attack returning, including Fairbanks, the future appears bright. "I'm very optimistic about next year," Nixon said. "We feel like in some ways we should be better with another year of experience." That extra year of experience could help Utah Valley become a winning team on the road and might turn a 16-win season into a 20-win season next year, an aspiration they talked about hitting this season. "That's a really important step: to be consistent on the road," Nixon said. As a program trying to make a name for itself, the Wolverines played a tough schedule. ' T m really proud to get 16 wins with the schedule we had," said Nixon. , "I think if you would have told me at the beginning of the season that we would have 16 wins, I'd be happy." Having stumbled down the stretch, losing their last three in the Independent Tournament in Edinburg, Texas, the Wolverines still broke the record for wins. At one point early in the season, Utah Valley even received a vote in the AP Top 25 Poll after a thrilling overtime win against Seton Hall. Nixon and her players are happy with their season, but they are also striving to make their next one even better. "We have a raised level of expectation," Nixon said. "We have a sense of success but not satisfaction." The expectations are going to be even higher with all five starters returning. In addition to Fairbanks', Marvin's, and McMurray's returning, Hollie Beaman and Jordyn Bowen are also back. How Utah Valley executes on the road next season will again determine whether the Wolverines make history as the best team in school history or fade down the stretch, because the pieces for success are in place starting with the big three. By the numbers Categories in which junior Robyn Fairbanks led all Independent playerspoints (24.0), rebounds (10), field goal percentage (.579) and blocks (1.3). Most wins at the Division I level for the women's team—breaking last season's record of 15. Rebounds Fairbanks pulled down against Duke-a Cameron Indoor Stadium record. |