Montana State holds off Utah Valley women

BOZEMAN, Mont. — The Montana State women's basketball team used a 15-2 run midway through the first half to break open a close game and hold off Utah Valley State for a 92-84 win Monday in Bozeman, Montana.

That run, combined with 20 first-half Wolverine turnovers and some hot Montana State shooting was too much for UVSC to overcome as the Bobcats picked up their first win of the season after starting 0-11. Utah Valley State dropped to 4-9 on the year with the loss.

"They outplayed us and deserved to win," said Utah Valley coach Cathy Nixon. "We need to learn how to play on the road with the commitment to defense that it takes."

Montana State shot 71 percent (20-for-28) in the second half, not allowing the Wolverines back into the game. For the game the Bobcats shot 57 percent compared to 40 percent for Utah Valley.

Hollie Beaman nearly single-handedly got Utah Valley back into the contest in the second half, scoring 19 of her career high 23 points in the half. Robyn Fairbanks also set a new career high with 26 points as all four Wolverine freshmen starters scored in double figures. Ashley Grimm set a career high with 11 points while Sandy Marvin also chipped in 11.

Fairbanks had a double double with 15 rebounds to go along with her 26 points as Utah Valley State outrebounded the Bobcats 46-33. Montana State went up 42-26 early in the second half for its biggest lead of the game to that point. The lead hovered around the 10-12 point mark for much of the second half. The Wolverines cut the lead to 10 points eight times before the Bobcats got buckets by Morton and Garcia, a free throw and a Jenny Heringer three for an 8-0 run and a 72-54 lead.

The Wolverines cut the lead down to nine on a Grimm lay up with just over three minutes to go and eventually would get the lead to eight at the 1:17 mark but would get no closer.

In the first half with the score at 19-17 Montana State, the Bobcats went on their 15-2 run to take a 34-19 lead. The Wolverines went into the half down 38-24.