The Southern Utah University (SUU) women’s basketball team is preparing for a key matchup against Utah Valley University (UVU) on Thursday, March 5, at the UCCU Center in Orem, Utah. The game is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. and will be available for viewing on ESPN+.
With a first-round bye in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) tournament at stake, SUU enters the contest with a 19-9 overall record and an 11-5 mark in conference play. Head Coach Tracy Mason emphasized the significance of this week’s games across the league.
“This is an important week of WAC play for a lot of teams. We’re focused on the things we have control over. Playing UVU on the road is always a tough matchup, and they’re playing really good basketball right now. We understand how important this next game is for us, and that is where we are focused,” Mason said.
Historically, SUU has performed well against UVU, holding a 22-10 all-time advantage and winning seven of their last eight meetings. In their previous encounters this season, SUU secured a 76-68 home win and followed it up with a defensive 64-60 victory on UVU’s court. Key performances included junior Ava Uhrich’s double-double with 20 points and 16 rebounds in the first meeting, while sophomore Sierra Chambers led scoring with 16 points in the second game.
The Thunderbirds lead the WAC in several offensive categories, including points per game (73.4), assists per game (15.3), field goal percentage (42.8%), and three-point shooting percentage (32.8%). Their rebounding average stands at 42 per game, ranking them among the top teams nationally.
Three SUU players rank among the top ten scorers in the conference, with Chambers averaging 15.2 points and 3.8 assists per game this season. Uhrich and Brooklyn Fely contribute significantly under the basket, combining for more double-doubles than any other team in the conference.
Utah Valley comes into Thursday’s contest with a 14-13 overall record and has won four of its last five games despite a 7-9 conference standing. The Wolverines are recognized for their strong defense, allowing only 60.9 points per game while forcing turnovers that result in an average of over 22 points off those opportunities each outing.
Senior Amanda Barcello leads UVU offensively with an average of 14.3 points per game. Defensively, five Wolverines average more than two steals per contest.
Tickets for the upcoming Air Force Reserve WAC Basketball Tournament can be purchased online at orleans.boydgaming.com.
