UVU avenges first-meeting loss, beats Chicago State

OREM — Utah Valley exacted some revenge for a 27-point Great West Conference loss less than two weeks ago in Chicago as it picked up a 74-61 victory over Chicago State on Saturday afternoon in the UCCU Center. The Wolverines got great production from the backcourt as guards Whitney Jenkins, Jenna Johnson and Alle Finch all finished in double figures, and Sammie Jensen notched her 13th double-double on the year.

"We didn't have our perimeter kids step up on Thursday night (a 48-46 loss to NJIT), and I challenged the guards to make plays today," said UVU head women's basketball coach Cathy Nixon. "I thought Jenna looked really aggressive tonight and Whitney played as well as she's played since she's been here. When we have balanced scoring to complement Sammie's consistent double-doubles we're a pretty good team."

After surrendering a big first-half lead to CSU (5-20, 3-4 GWC) and grinding to a 33-33 tie at halftime, the Wolverines (12-11, 4-2 GWC) scored four consecutive points to open the second frame, but had to sit starting point guard Abbie Beutler after the senior picked up her fourth personal foul just a minute and a half into the period.

A 9-0 Cougar run followed, giving Chicago State its largest lead of the game at 42-37 with 16:17 still to play.

But UVU would battle back, overtaking CSU at 47-44 after Whitney Jenkins buried a corner three, and eventually growing the lead to six after another three, this time from Jenna Johnson, at the 10:23 mark.

Back-to-back slashing layups from Cydne Mason and fast-break connection from Jenkins to Alle Finch for two highlighted a 10-2 Wolverine run over the next three minutes, as UVU took a 64-50 lead with 7:22 left in the game. All in all, the Wolverines pieced together a huge 27-8 run over a nine-minute span to seize control of the game. Johnson scored 11 of her 13 points during the pivotal stretch, while Jenkins dropped in seven.

Chicago State hung around for the last few minutes, but the outcome was never really in doubt as UVU held on to earn a split in the season series with the Cougars, winning 74-61.

In all, Jenkins led the Wolverines with a season-high 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting and Sammie Jensen registered her seventh double-double in eight games with 14 points and a game-high 12 boards. Johnson's 13 were her highest scoring output dropping 21 against San Jose State on Jan. 5, and Alle Finch's 10 points rounded out UVU's double-digit scoring.