STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Jenna Dick nearly had a game-winning three-point bucket with 12 seconds to play, but Utah Valley answered with two seconds remaining to force the game to overtime, which the Wolverines ended up winning 63-59.
 
The Texans (7-14, 1-9 WAC) dropped to 6-4 at home with Saturday's loss at Wisdom Gym, as the Wolverines (5-16, 2-8 WAC) snapped an eight-game losing streak and won their first road game of the year (1-10).
 
Both teams have struggled with injuries this year, forcing both to fight for their WAC Tournament lives this late in the season. On Saturday, both teams gave it their all and gave the Wisdom Gym fans an exciting game.
 
Utah Valley had the early advantage, not allowing Tarleton to score over the first four minutes, leading 6-0. When the Wolverines were up 11-5 with 3:10 left, Tarleton ended the quarter on a 9-0 run to lead 14-11 after the opening frame, thanks to three three-point makes, two by Tyler Jackson and one by Dick.
 
In the second quarter, Tarleton's smothering defense allowed just five points by UVU in the frame, forcing the Wolverines into nine turnovers and a 2-of-7 (.286) clip from the field, 0-of-4 from downtown. The Texans made 5-of-10 in the quarter and built a double-digit lead, going into the locker room up 26-16.
 
In the third quarter, Utah Valley simply chipped away at the deficit, making 7-of-14 (.500) in the quarter compared to Tarleton's 4-of-12 (.333) mark. Tarleton led 36-32 after three.
 
Midway through the fourth quarter, Utah Valley tied the game at 41-41, the closest the contest had been since it was 11-11 in the first. Emilia Axelsson responded with a three-point make, then Mayra Caicedo got a steal and made two free throws to put Tarleton up five with 2:49 left. The Wolverines answered with six straight to take their first lead since it was 11-8, going up 47-46 with 29 seconds left. On the ensuing possession, Dick nailed her three-point shot to put Tarleton up by two with 10 seconds left. Utah Valley's Kaylee Byon hit a contested jumper from the top of the key to tie the game. With 0.5 on the clock, head coach Misty Wilson drew up a successful play that gave Tarleton a good look, but the rushed shot was off the mark and the game went to overtime.
 
In OT, both teams scored just two points apiece nearly three minutes in. Utah Valley went to the free throw line 10 times in the extra period, making eight, and led for the last 2:25. Twice Tarleton hit big three-pointers to give them a chance, one by Axelsson and the other by Teresa Da Silva. With just over four seconds left in a two-point game, UVU's Eleyana Tafisi made both free throws to ice the Wolverine win.
 
Tarleton had the large advantage in three-point shooting (10-of-24 to 2-of-14), turnovers (15 to 22) and bench points (28 to four), but Utah Valley had the advantage in overall shooting (24-of-50 to 19-of-53) and rebounding (41-27).
 
Nyajah Mitchels had a team-high 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting off the bench, adding three rebounds and two blocks. Dick, also a reserve, tallied 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting from distance, six assists and four rebounds. Caicedo had a game-high eight assists, adding eight points, four rebounds and five steals as she played all 45 minutes. Jackson had eight points and three rebounds in 39 minutes, Da Silva had eight points in 19 minutes, and Axelsson finished with seven points and eight rebounds in 41 minutes.
 
Byon led the Wolverines with 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting, adding three rebounds. Shay Fano just missed out on a double-double in 44 minutes of play, going for 14 points and nine rebounds.
 
Tarleton next plays Stephen F. Austin, the top ranked team in the latest WAC WBB Resume Seeding System. This is a makeup game from this past Thursday, and will be played at Wisdom Gym on Monday at 1 p.m. CT.