Danja Stafford Collins hit the game-winner with 1.2 seconds left as Utah Valley University opened WAC play with a thrilling 65-64 win in double-overtime on Saturday at Abilene Christian.

Stafford Collins finished with a career-high 18 points while also grabbing 11 rebounds for her third double-double this season. The WAC’s leading rebounder, she’s also reached double figures on the glass in three straight games. Tahlia White matched her season-high with a game-high 19 points and a career-high seven steals. First cousins White and Stafford Collins combined for 37 points on 16-for-25 shooting to lead the Wolverines (9-4, 1-0) as they ended Abilene Christian’s (11-5, 0-1) nine-game win streak.

“This is a huge win for us,” said head coach Dan Nielson. “We had chances to let the game slip away a few times but had big play after big play, especially from Danja. To come on the road to begin league play and beat a team that’s won nine straight, and had our number in the past, is a big accomplishment. I’m so proud of the effort and result today.”

The Wolverines trailed 62-60 when Stafford Collins scored on a feed from Amanda Barcello, tying the game at 64 with 1:24 remaining. Both teams then came up empty on multiple possessions until the final seconds. UVU had the ball with 11.6 seconds left out of a timeout when Stafford Collins got it with just under five seconds left above the 3-point line, dribbled twice and then hit a floater from just inside the free-throw line to give UVU a 64-62 lead.

The Wildcats drew a foul on the ensuing inbound play following a timeout and the ball advancement to halfcourt, but Emma Troxell went 1-for-2 from the line, allowing Utah Valley to hold on.

Utah Valley finished with 14 steals while forcing 31 ACU turnovers. The Wolverines also turned it over 28 times with the Wildcats holding a 30-21 edge in points off turnovers, but UVU had things going down low, with 42 of the 64 points coming inside the paint.

Stafford Collins, who had 14 points and nine rebounds during the second half and extra frames, initially forced the first overtime with just under one second to go on an offensive rebound and putback with just under a second to go, tying it at 49-49 in regulation.

ACU scored the first five points of the overtime, getting a 3-pointer from Troxell and a Meredith Mayes layup to lead 54-49. Down three with just over a minute to go, Tessa Chaney scored, was fouled, and hit the free throw to tie the game back up. Stafford Collins looked to have a chance to win the game in the waning seconds of the first overtime but couldn’t complete her attempt as it appeared her left arm was hit as she was going up for the layup, and time expired with game knotted at 54-54.

Also reaching double figures for Utah Valley was Kylee Mabry, who finished with 10 points, while Chaney added seven. Payton Hull, the WAC’s leading scorer, led ACU with 17 while Troxell had 12 and Mayes added 10.

White scored Utah Valley’s first eight points of the game during a first quarter that saw the Wolverines force eight ACU turnovers, leading to a low-scoring first 10 minutes. A bucket by Chaney on a lob inside from Cambree Blackham gave UVU a 10-9 lead after one quarter.

The Wolverines trailed 19-16 when Ally Criddle and Mia Rivers traded 3-pointers. Natalia Chavez later hit a triple for the Wildcats to give ACU the biggest lead either team would enjoy in the opening half, 25-21, with 1:36 to go. Utah Valley would ended the half with six straight points. Mabry scored four and White beat the buzzer with a left-hand layup to give the Wolverines a 27-25 halftime lead. That bucket gave her a game-high 10 points at the half.

The game was tied at 27-27 when Stafford Collins hit two free throws to start a 10-2 run. White continued her stellar play with consecutive baskets to give UVU a 33-27 lead. The run was capped with a layup from Stafford Collins and a steal and layup from White to make it 37-29 and force an ACU timeout.

The Wildcats chipped away, eventually tying the game at 39-39 when Erin Woodson hit a corner three with just under five seconds remaining to knot the game up going into the final 10 minutes of play.

Utah Valley will be back out on the road next week when they travel to Grand Canyon, winners of 12 straight after they opened WAC play with a road win at Southern Utah on Saturday. The Wolverines will face the Lopes on Thursday before heading to Riverside to face California Baptist next Saturday.

Wolverine wrestling beats Cal Baptist

Utah Valley wrestling defeated California Baptist, 23-14 on Saturday night inside Lockhart Arena. The Wolverines won four of the final five bouts, including a pin by Jack Forbes at 285 that broke an 11-11 tie. UVU (5-4) won six total matches, with three coming via bonus points to hand CBU (5-3) their first Big 12 loss of the season.

“That was a good team win against a gritty CBU squad. They certainly came to wrestle, and we responded with some tough wins,” said UVU head coach Adam Hall. “I’m happy to have Terrell back and firing. Ryker Fullmer looked the best he’s been all season. Jack Forbes injected some much-needed life into our team and the crowd, going with a pin,” said Hall.

UVU got early wins with major decisions from Ryker Fullmer and No. 4 Terrell Barraclough.

Fullmer built a comfortable lead at 7-1 after two periods, but the third period got him the bonus point victory with two takedowns in the final 11 seconds.

In his first action since Cliff Keen, Barraclough took the mat and recorded a major decision. He led 5-0 heading to the final period, pulling away with two penalty points, and then a last second takedown took the score to 10-1 before the riding time point.

At 197, CBU’s Eli Sheeren held a narrow 3-2 edge into the final minute of the third period before UVU’s Kael Bennie took the lead with a takedown and held on for the final 30 seconds to even the dual up at 11-11.

Forbes put the Wolverines up for good after battling through a couple of delays due to bleeding in the first period. He took a 1-0 lead in the second after an escape from the bottom position and extended his lead to 4-0 before pinning Jamikael Lytle. The pin was his second in dual action after he pinned Morvens Saint Jean (Presbyterian) earlier this season.

125-pounder Bridger Ricks returned to action after missing the Oregon State dual and did not waste time with an escape early in the first period. CBU’s Mitchell Neimer kept it close but was only able to score on a pair of escapes to and trailed 3-2 heading to the third period before Ricks extended his lead to 4-2 on an escape and earned the riding time point.

Heading into the 141-pound bout, CBU needed a pin to force the tie and have the winner come down to criteria, but No. 16 Haiden Drury had other ideas, going up 2-0 on two escapes in the second period. After being warned for stalling, Richard Murillo cut the lead to 2-1 in the final 30 seconds but would not score again.

Drury improves to 15-3 this season and 8-1 in dual action. He holds a career record at Utah Valley of 24-6 in duals.

Hall said: “We let a few matches slip away, which we will analyze and improve on. We will dial in on our training over the next two weeks as we prepare for Mizzou on the 17th. Go, Wolverines!”

Utah Valley will travel to No. 12 Missouri on Friday, Jan. 17, for a 5:30 p.m. MT dual against the Tigers. They will also travel for the rest of the month visiting Wyoming, South Dakota State and North Dakota State.