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Show SPORTS UVU Saved by the Bell SPORTS VOL L ISSUE 21 www.uvureview.com JANUARY 31, 2011 SCHEDULE By Nate Gray Asst. Sports Editor Shane Maryott/UVU Review It doesn't take a professional scout or basketball analyst to realize that some athletes just have got it figured out, and Kim Bell is one of those athletes. UVU lady Wolverine basketball fans can attest to that, as they watch the young freshman continuously grow on the court. It's not every day you see a freshman with the responsibilities that Bell has taken upon in her early Division I career. "We're trying to help her get better; she's been thrown in the fire a little bit," said Head Coach Cathy Nixon. "She's had to defend some big solid 6'4" kids on the low block, and also had to defend kids out on the perimeter." The 6'1" forward has welcomed the tough and new responsibilities of playing a position that her coach noted was, "a position she had never played before," and goes out every day with confidence so that she can succeed at it. "Its just learning to have to go into every game and play your hardest and not back down," said Bell. "Sometimes that doesn't always happen, but just being mentally prepared for every game and knowing that you want to do your best and play your hardest — that's something you can control. Trying to do the things that you can control to the best of your abilities, hopefully everything else will fall into place." It is quite amazing to see the young freshman so mentally strong so early in her colligate career. Bell credits her father, Thomas Bell, for teaching and guiding her down the road of success. "He was never there to sissy me or baby me," said Bell. "He would understand things I was going through, but then he always had the best advice to give me on how to correct what I was doing wrong or how to help other teammates to help me get better as well. Stories he told me about his own personal experiences were the best because he was amazing, and just learning from things he had to tell me really helped." THURSDAY FEB. 3rd Women's basketball at Texas-Pan American Edinburg, Texas 4:30 p.m. Men's basketball at Texas-Pan American Edinburg, Texas 6:30 p.m. FRIDAY FEB. 4th Wrestling at Boise State Boise, Idaho 7:00 p.m. Track at Boise State Invitational Boise, Idaho SATURDAY FEB. 5th Women's basketball at Houston Baptist Houston, Texas 4:15 p.m. Men's basketball at Houston Baptist Houston, Texas 6:35 p.m. Track at Boise State Invitational Boise, Idaho continued on B8 Kim Bell drives to the basket in the Lady Wolverines' game against Seatlle University. Wolverines fall to No. 25, but pick up 4 individual wins Three Wolverine seniors and one junior tallied wins for Utah Valley Shane Maryott/UVU Review Senior Ben Kjar looks to the official for call By Kira Terry Sports Editor Four individual match wins weren't enough for the Utah Valley wrestlers to upset No. 25 Wyoming during the Wolverines' second-tolast home match on Jan. 22, falling 23-15. Despite the loss, three Utah Valley seniors and one junior picked up individual wins. "Our older guys, they've been doing this and they know what to do out there. Some of our younger guys are still figuring some stuff out," said Coach Williams. "They [Wyoming] are a mature team and well coached — good kids, hard workers just like we are — but you can tell the difference of experience by the older guys are winning their matches versus the younger guys that aren't quite there yet, but we will. They work hard, they'll get there." Wyoming hit the board first, taking both the 157 and 165-pounder matches, putting them up 6-0 over Utah Valley. The crowd went wild when Utah Valley's 174-pounder Brad Darrington was the first to score an individual win for the Wolverines over Wyoming's Patrick Martinez off of a takedown with only seconds left. Darrington took the match by decision, 5-4, putting three points on the board for UVU. The Wolverine grapplers didn't see another individual match win until senior No. 14 Ben Kjar took the mat against Wyoming's No. 18 Michael Martinez at 125 lbs, winning by decision, 5-4. Kjar's win added three more team points, but the Wolverines were still trailing Wyoming 6-20. during the match against No. 25 Wyoming. Kjar was followed by teammate No. 13 Flint Ray at 133 lbs. against Wyoming's No. 18 Tyler Cox, taking the match by fall, 3:53. Ray's win put six team points on the board, putting the Wolverines down only eight points. Utah Valley's only other individual win came from 141-pounder Justin Morrill winning by decision, 5-4, over Wyoming junior Chase Smith. "I was proud of the guys; I thought they wrestled hard," said Williams. "We've had to back off the last month on our intensity. We're not usually a team that's out of shape in the last period, but we're a little tired, but we've had to back off because of injuries and we're fine. We'll take what happened there and we're going to be able to push the pace by conference time." The Wolverines head to face No. 9 Boise State this Friday after a 12-day break. Utah Valley will then host their final match at home Feb. 11 welcoming Air Force at 4:00 p.m. |