Sister act: Criddle and Blackham set tone in UVU women’s basketball’s win over UT Arlington
- UVU senior Ally Criddle (left) and freshman Cambree Blackham dance during an official review during the WAC game against UT Arlington at the UCCU Center in Orem on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025.
- UVU freshman Cambree Blackham shoots a shot during the WAC game against UT Arlington at the UCCU Center in Orem on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025.
- UVU senior Ally Criddle drives to the basket during the WAC game against UT Arlington at the UCCU Center in Orem on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025.
- UVU players celebrate a big play during the WAC game against UT Arlington at the UCCU Center in Orem on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025.
- UVU junior Kylee Mabry goes up for a shot during the WAC game against UT Arlington at the UCCU Center in Orem on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025.
- UVU head coach Dan Nielson directs his team during the WAC game against UT Arlington at the UCCU Center in Orem on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025.
- UVU freshman Cambree Blackham makes a move during the WAC game against UT Arlington at the UCCU Center in Orem on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025.
- UVU junior Kylee Mabry shoots a shot during the WAC game against UT Arlington at the UCCU Center in Orem on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025.
- UVU players talk things over during the WAC game against UT Arlington at the UCCU Center in Orem on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025.
- UVU head coach Dan Nielson talks to his team during the WAC game against UT Arlington at the UCCU Center in Orem on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025.
During an official review during the WAC contest against UT Arlington at the UCCU Center in Orem on Thursday, UVU senior Ally Criddle and her younger sister Cambree Blackham took advantage of the break in the action to work on their dance moves.
And why not?
The sister duo deserved to enjoy themselves with how well they were playing, although the dancing did have a purpose.
“We’ve talked about playing with flow, not getting tight,” Criddle said. “I think that was the way we did it. It works for some people and doesn’t work for other people, but clearly it works for us. That’s how we stay loose, stay happy. Basketball is so fun. It’s a game we get to play with our best friends and we have to enjoy those moments.”
Criddle finished with 18 points, eight assists and two steals before she fouled out in the fourth quarter, but the 86-75 Wolverine win over the Mavericks was really a breakout party for Blackham.
The freshman’s previous career high had been an 11-point outing against Park, Ariz in November and had only scored 33 total points in all 14 other games.
On this night, however, Blackham came ready to play.
She poured in a game-high 23 points, including drilling five 3-pointers. She also had six assists, a rebound, a steal and drew a late charge to help put the game away.
“It was a massive game from a freshman against a really good team in our conference,” UVU head coach Dan Nielson said. “Making shots was great but those other things, taking the charge, making the pass on the back-cut, managing the pressure overall, those were big.”
And Blackham’s proudest teammate had to be her older sister.
“I love her so much,” Criddle said. “There is kind of like a motherly instinct, like I want her to succeed more than like anybody on Planet Earth. I’ll do anything for her to succeed. So watching her do that makes me so happy. I know all the hard work she’s put in, and I know all the work that nobody else sees. Watching that pay off just makes it 10 times better.”
Blackham said it felt great to be able to have that type of performance for her team.
“It was awesome,” Blackham said. “Coming into my first year of college, there has been some adjusting and my teammates have been helping me adjust. Our coaches said all week to take the shot when you are given the opportunity. It’s the best.”
Nielson said that while the stats didn’t indicate Blackham was going to have a big game, he wasn’t surprised that she did.
“In the summer and in the fall, Cambree was maybe our best scorer,” Nielson said. “I thought, like a lot of freshmen, she kind of got a little nervous as the season started. I’ve been challenging her to just get back to who she is, which is being aggressive all the time, and she’s been doing that in practice.”
UVU needed Criddle and Blackham to take some of the scoring load, since the Wolverines dealt with quite a bit of foul trouble in the frenetic battle against UT Arlington.
UVU had a 16-12 lead at the end of the first quarter, but then rode the momentum of three of Blackham’s treys to go on a 20-5 run.
But the Mavericks closed the half on a 13-2 run and always seemed to be just close enough to be dangerous the rest of the way.
Every time the visitors tried to make a push, though, UVU had an answer.
“I think it goes to just kind of the maturity of our group compared to the last year,” Nielson said. “We’ve been building this for a couple years to try and get back here. You look at our games that we’ve won close, the girls believe we can do it. We can execute down the stretch.
“I think in years past, maybe when that pressure got on we would have gotten a little tight and turned it over. But I thought for the most part, we just said, OK, get back to the things we were doing well. And it was from the whole group.”
That confidence was reflected in a lot of areas on Thursday night, but perhaps the smiles and the dancing were the best examples.
“It’s a game and we’re supposed to have fun,” Blackham said. “Our whole team plays the best when we’re loose and having a good time. It flows better.”
And it’s even better when two sisters get to have that experience together, according to Criddle.
“It’s so special,” Criddle said. “It just makes me want to savor every moment and really appreciate what I get to do.
“I’ve always had this dream since I was a little girl, and then once I got older and my little sister started playing, my dream has always been to play with her. So now it’s like I’m in living the dream I always have wanted. I just have to appreciate every moment that I get it with her.”
UVU (10-6, 2-2) now heads back out for its fifth road game in six contests when the Wolverines play at Utah Tech in Saint George (2 p.m. MT, ESPN+).
UVU men’s basketball escapes with OT win at UT Arlington
The Wolverine men’s basketball team had to overcome a four-point deficit in the final seconds of regulation in its WAC game at UT Arlington on Thursday night, but forced overtime and then held on for the thrilling 85-83 win after the extra period.
The hero for UVU was Jackson Holcombe, who made a layup as time expired off a pass from Kylin Green to secure the win.
Dominick Nelson and Tanner Toolson had big games for the Wolverines, with Nelson pouring in 25 points and Toolson adding 22.
UVU now comes home to compete in the Old Hammer Rivalry on Saturday as Utah Tech will come to the UCCU Center in Orem. That game is scheduled to tipoff at 2 p.m. MT and can be seen on ESPN+.