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Show g3j Stay updated on UVU sports online wolverinegreen.com Wolverines having a rough season KIRA TERRY Asst. Sports editor The Lady Wolverines have lost five of their last six games played since just before Thanksgiving break, putting them at 3-6 for the season. UVU took its first road trip beginning Nov. 18 and traveled east to face No. 25 Mississippi State as well as Longwood in Farmville, Va. Both competitions ended in a loss. The Wolverines then returned home on Nov. 24 to take on Boise State. The Broncos gave UVU a run for their money quick in the first half hitting seven of their first 10 shots behind the arc and then used 18 turnovers from the Wolverines during the game to give them 25 points, ultimately winning the game 79-55. UVU then left for their second road trip of the season for the Wingate Thanksgiving Classic in Bozeman Mont. The Wolverines kicked off the Classic against Winthrop, dropping another game 72-59. UVU then faced Southern Utah in the Classic, picking up a win 68-54. Senior Julie Smith scored a season high 26 points and received AllTournament honors. Ericka Newbold contributed 10 points and eight rebounds. Asumi Nakayama put in seven points and got five steals while Jenna Johnson and Kyra Prause each bucketed seven points. The Wolverines returned home on Dec. 3 and faced Ohio taking another loss 57-43. Ohio kept a lead the entire game. UVU brought the game within two points in the second half, but was not able to get ahead. Smith finished with 15 points and six rebounds. Kayla Burningham contributed eight points and four rebounds. Newbold put in seven points and Johnson finished with six points. The Lady Wolverines will return to home court after finals week on Dec. 18 to take on Portland State. Women's head basketball coach Cathy Nixon tries to rally the troops during a timeout against Ohio. U V U Schedule TYSON CAMP Sports writer Dec 7-12 Tuesday, Dec. 8 Men's Basketball vs.. William Jessup University McKay Events Center, Orem 7:05 p.m. ' , Wednesday, Dec. 9 Women's Basketball vs. Cal State-Bakersfield Bakersfield, Calif. 8 p.m. Professional basketball in Utah Valley is back! • .. • , "•. : -• Saturday, Dec. 12 Men's Basketball vs. Utah State Logan, Utah-7:05 p? Women's Basketball vs. Southern Utah '• Cedar City, Utah 7 p.m. Wrestling vs. University of Nebraska-Kearney Loper Open Kearney, Neb. TBA * '*%i&b^ ' . . r „» w The Utah Flash return to the McKay Events Center with hopes of bringing the NBA D-League title back to Orem after failing just short last year. UVU fans will be pleased to know that former Wolverine forward Jordan Brady will be suiting up for the Flash after spending last season playing overseas in Europe. But Brady isn't the only player with local ties to the state. Former BYU Cougar Lee Cummard and former Utah Ute Luke Nevill have signed with the Flash bringing the one-time rivals together. Cummard said he was looking forward to playing with Nevill. "Luke and I had some great battles over the years, but I'm excited to finally play with him, not against him," said Cummard. "I look forward to sharing the court with him as a friend and teammate, not an op- ponent." The team also returns many key players from that successful 2008-09 campaign that ended when the Flash lost to Colorado in the D-League Finals. Standing out among those players is Dontell Jefferson, who played much of last season in Orem before being called up to the Charlotte Bobcats of the NBA to finish the season. The 6-5 guard out of Arkansas averaged 18 points and 5.4 assists per game to lead the offensive attack. Also back from last year's squad are forwards Carlos Wheeler and Ben- net Davis. Sharp-shooting guard Andre Ingram will return to the lineup as well. Head coach Brad Jones will roam the sidelines-clipboard in hand-for the third straight year. Jones will be assisted by former NBA champion Mark "Mad Dog" Madsen and Kevin Young. Madsen is best known for "letting the dogs out" at a Lakers championship celebration in 2001. As of Dec. 2, the team has posted a 2-1 record in the early going-with wins at Tulsa and Los Angeles. Jefferson has led the way for the Flash averaging 18 points per game through the three contests. Wheeler and newcomer Orien Greene have chipped in, each averaging 12 points per game. The Flash will host the Dakota Wizards in their home opener on Dec. 7 and then welcome the Reno Bighorns to town on Dec. 11. Both games begin'at 7 p.m. at the McKay Events Center. r. Men's basketball breaks even as nine in the first half. Going into the break the wolverines enjoyed a • The men's basketball three-point advantage but • •;+: team just finished a four game road trip with stops in they couldn't hold on after Bakersfield took the lead "-Bakersfield, CA, Minneaplate in the second half. ; • olis, MN, and Mobile, AL. "Our effort started ' ~. ;•",; The Wolverines have not * :.J performed well on the road strong and we were ac: '. in the past and it seems that tive, but you have to give Bakersfield a lot of credit. ; > the pattern has continued They took it away from us : '•- 50 far this season. UVU reand they brought a lot of > ; turns from their most recent energy down the stretch. '-•*"• road trip with a record of We weren't competitive > ,1-3. enough and have enough ; - The Wolverines howl ever did manage to pull out fight in the final minutes," said Wolverines head coach -I'•"a victory at home against : Dick Hunsaker following _ . Northern New Mexico, ( the defeat. : making their overall record The next match came : even at 3-3. against the University of -; • ;•" The first stop on the Minnesota, who at the \',."- ^Toad trip ended in a loss for time was ranked 18 in the ;>~the visiting Wolverines as country. The Wolverines ;•''*'•'they dropped a match with out rebounded the Golden *; : ' "the Roadrunners of Cal: ; ' state Bakersfield, 58-51. ' Gophers 34-29, and out shot them 45 percent to 42 '.':_:; UVU got out to a hot percent, but UVU turned -;'- start leading by as many feKYLEJELLINGS ;, ' Managing editor the ball over 26 times, destroying all hopes of an upset. UVU.then went to Mobile, AL for the South Alabama Thanksgiving Classic where they dropped their first game to Georgia State. Although they began the classic with a loss, the Wolverines were able to capture their first road win of the year against Alcorn State. After a long road trip there is no place like home and the Wolverines made that evident as six players scored in double figures and dominated Northern New Mexico, 78-55. As of Dec. 4 the Wolverines of Utah Valley post an overall record of 3-3 with four of their next five contests to be held at the McKay Events Center. DAVE IBA/UVU Review Senior guard Tyray Petty handles the ball against Trinity Western. DAVE 1BA/UVU Review Wolverine wrestlers on track for success WESLIE GRAHAM Sports writer The UVU wrestling team has dominated the collegiate field so far this season, winning two tournaments and three duals all against Division-I teams. "Everyone has really stepped up to fill all the gaps we've had due to injuries," said coach Greg Williams of the teams' success. As the Wolverine grapplers enjoy success as a team, individual wrestlers are excelling as well. Coach Williams spotlighted Brad Darrington as the most improved wrestler this season. Darrington, a sophomore weighing in at 174, has wrestled and beat a two time national qualifier from UNC Greensboro twice this season. Also aiding heavily in the success of- UVU is 197 pound Josh Wood, 125 pound Benjamin Kjar and 133 pound Jeffrey Newby. Coach Williams is pleased with the physical condition of the team this year. "Preseason practices really paid off," stated Williams, "We're in great shape.1' Williams is adjusting inseason practices to incorporate more drills to better improve technique and timing within the team. "We're right where we need to be,", said Williams of the teams' tournament preparation so far this season. As the team travels both locally and across the country. Coach Williams < says that they show good sportsmanship in every area. "Our team has top notch individuals," said Williams, "The guys set a good example that way." wolverinegreen.com |