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Show Stav 'pj^dated on sport wolverinegreen.com Revenge is sweet for Wolverines Chance at redemption for Wolverines isn't in much better shape. They have won 12 games - _ and are middle of the pack in the GWC standings. Where are Ronnie Price and Ryan Toolson when you need them? But the nuiizic of March comes in the success of -.> MATTBEAUDIN teams in the same position Sports editor as the Wo!\ erines. And ..this weekend will be no In early March there different, when UVU will are two kinds of college host the GWC Tournabasketball teams remainment, setting the stage for ing: those looking forward both teams to make a run to the NCAA Tournatowards a GWC championment and those looking ship. to salvage their season by making noise in their Nixon will rely on conference tournaments. senior Julie Smith to put The Wolverine men's and up points in order for the . women's teams will be Wolverines to collect some the latter, hoping to make wins on the home court. noise in the Great West Smith has led'her team in Conference Tournament. scoring in 17 games this year and will be relied on , Both Cathy Nixon and again by her teammates. , Dick Hunsaker, UVU's On the men's side, women's and men's Hunsaker will look to basketball coaches, have senior guard Jordan no doubt sprouted some grey hair as they've guided Swarbrick to pace the their teams through subpar Wolverines throughout the tournament. UVU could seasons this year. also use a big stretch of The lady Wolverines games from Shawn Dead- . have won 7 games all season and sit in sixth place in wiler and Justin Baker. , the GWC standings, a far The tournament will cry from the Robin Fairtake place March 10-13 in " . banks-led teams of not so the UVU Events Center. long ago. The men's team Lady Wolverines close out regular season with win L KIRA TERRY Asst. Sports editor UVU sophomore Kevin Woods attacks the basket in a win over NJIT. DAVE IBA/UVU Review UVU focus turns to conference tournament breakdowns early, so we made an adjustment," HunSports writer saker said about the hockeyLooking to avenge an style substitution. "I thought earlier loss to NJIT, the it helped get us settled down UVU men used an early and gave us a chance to get second half run to notch a the game under control." 65-57 victory over the HighThe move worked as the landers at the UVU Events Wolverines slowly clawed Center. their way back before a JusJordan Swarbrick led tin Baker layup gave them • the Wolverines (12-16, 5-7) their first lead of the game, with 13 points while Jheryl 16-14. Baker finished the Wilson paced NJIT (9-18, game with eight points and 4-6) with a game-high 26 six rebounds. points. With just under a minute After falling behind by remaining in the first half, five in the early going, UVU Tyray Petty hauled in a nifty head coach Dick Hunsaker pass from Kevin Woods subbed out all of his startand laid the ball in as the ers in an effort to spark his Wolverines took their bigteam. gest lead of the half into the "We had a couple of locker room up 25-18. L TYSON CAMP UVU closed the1 half on a Woods also chipped in 10 16-4 run as the Highlanders points and grabbed five went ice cold from the field boards for UVU. in the last 4:30 of the half. With NJIT just ahead of UVU in the Great West In the second half, it was more of the same as the Conference standings, the win proved to be even more Wolverines opened the half important with next week's on a 22-9 run to increase their lead to 20 after Shawn conference tournament looming. Deadwiler hit a trey with 9:28 remaining. But Hunsaker was just as satisfied'avenging a 71-56 But the Highlanders loss on Jan. 30 to the Highdidn't go down without landers. a fight. A 3-pointer by NJIT's Chris Flores with six "NJIT really had their " minutes left in the game cut way with us at their place," UVU's lead to just eight. Hunsaker said. "Our whole game plan was to come in Thanks to some stellar and play hard defensively, free throw shooting down take care of the ball, and the stretch by Woods and limit them to one shot." Swarbrick, the Wolverines staved off the Highlanders and sealed the victory. Utah Valley women's basketball team hosted conference opponent NJIT March 4 in its final regular season game taking the win 70-61. "It's really satisfying to see them put the game together on both ends, the defensive end and the offensive end," said UVU coach Cathy Nixon. "Seasons are a journey and I really feel good about where we're at; to end our regular season with a win like that against a team we struggled with early on." Thursday's game was the Pink Zone Game to raise awareness for cancer and raise money for Orem resident Diane Morita who is battling colon cancer. Players wore pink shoelaces; wristbands, headbands and Senior Julie Smith even sported pink kneehigh socks. It was also senior night for Asunit Nakayama, Blake Reynolds and Smith, as well as Junior Kayla Burningham who's playing her final season at UVU. Prior to the game all four players were honored at center court. NJIT led the score for nearly seven minutes in the first half until Utah Valley caught up and took a onepoint lead off a jumper by Jenna Johnson with 8:44 left to play. The Highlanders kept the spread small and with 3:31 to play took a onepoint lead. The Wolverines answered back immediate- "Seasons are a journey really feel good about where we're at," said Coach Cathy Nixon ly taking the lead and keeping the lead into the break. At the half, UVU led NJIT . 33-27. Utah Valley shot . 50 percent from the field to NJIT's 32.3 percent in the first half. Utah Valley \ kept the lead for nearly the first . . seven minutes of the second half until NJIT tied the game at 41. The H ighlanders didn't lead once during the second half while Utah Valley took their lead to as many as nine. Johnson led the Wol- ... verines with 27 points. "She's really proven to be." a consistent contributor on both ends of the court, of- ' fensively and defensively," said Nixon. Smith followed Johnson with 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists. ,; Erika Newbold finished : with 13 points and pulled -Z down eight rebounds. Na- ^ kayama led the team in as.-:1sists finishing with 11 and> contributed eight points. Utah Valley will hbst the Great West Conference. tournament March 10-13.^; in the UVU Events Center |
