The Wolverines forced 34 turnovers, including 25 steals, and pounded Southern Utah, 74-53, on Thursday night inside the UCCU Center.

The 34 forced turnovers is the fourth most all-time and the third most against a Division I opponent. UVU recorded 25 steals in the contest, the third-most in program history and the most against a Division I opponent. Utah Valley scored 34 of its 74 points off Thunderbirds’ turnovers.

“I really liked our discipline on defense tonight,” UVU head coach Dan Nielson said. “To create 34 turnovers and 25 steals against a good team is impressive. I thought we were balanced, and Kaylee (Headrick) was especially aggressive. It’s always great to win in-state games, and hopefully, this helps us build some momentum for Vegas next week.”

Headrick finished with 17 points, six rebounds, and five assists, while teammates Amanda Barcello, Cambree Blackham and Halle Nelson each recorded five or more steals. Blackham nabbed her 79th steal, passing Taylor Christensen for the most in a single season with a steal in the third quarter.

Headrick provided a spark early in the second quarter, scoring four of UVU’s first six points, with a driving layup from Saige Gibb mixed in to cut the SUU lead to 16-15. After the Thunderbirds pushed the lead to 20-15, Utah Valley went on a 7-0 run sparked by a 3-pointer from Kylee Mabry in the corner. A UVU steal then led to a transition layup as Blackham found Mabry to give the Wolverines their first lead of the game at 21-20.  Southern Utah turned the ball over 12 times in the second quarter, with UVU converting those into 12 points, helping the Wolverines overcome a slow start shooting. Utah Valley ended the half on a 15-3 run to take a 30-23 lead into the locker room.

The Thunderbirds chipped into the halftime deficit in the third quarter and limited UVU to just 5-of-17 shooting. The Wolverines, however, extended their lead to 13 at 38-25 with 4:30 left in the period after a 3-pointer from Barcello and a jumper from Nelson. Sorenson added a layup and a pair of free throws inside to help keep Utah Valley ahead by double digits. She finished with eight points and four rebounds in eight minutes of action.

Leading 46-36 at the start of the fourth quarter, Utah Valley opened on a 10-3 run with two more 3-pointers from Barcello and a transition layup from Mabry to push the lead to 17 with 7:55 left to play. The Wolverines extended the lead to as many as 20 with 5:00 remaining after Nelson made a pair of free throws.

Utah Valley earned its first victory over Southern Utah this season and has now beaten each team in conference play at least once this year.  The Wolverines (15-13 overall, 8-9 WAC) have won five of their last six games heading into Saturday’s regular-season finale, when they welcome Utah Tech to the UCCU Center for the Old Hammer Rivalry. Utah Valley defeated the Trailblazers 58-55 in February at Lockhart Arena but dropped the first meeting in Burns Arena. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. MT.

No. 13 Arizona races past BYU softball

TUCSON, Ariz. — BYU softball fell in its Big 12 series opener at No. 13 Arizona, 13-1 at Hillenbrand Stadium on Thursday night.

The Cougars (5-15, 0-1 Big 12) scored first in the top of the first, but the Wildcats put up 11 in bottom half of the inning to regain control.

BYU plated one in the first as Lily Owens reached on an Arizona error with a laser to the right field wall before Hailey Shuler brought her home on a double in the right center gap.

The Wildcats answered right back and blew things open in the home half of the frame, batting through the order and loading the bases twice to take an 11-1 lead after one.

Arizona added two more in the bottom of the second with two hits, a pair of walks and a fielder’s choice to make it 13-1.

The Cougars put a runner on third in the third and two on in the fifth, but were unable to score another run, ending the game after five innings via the run rule.Game two of the series between BYU and Arizona is set for Friday, Mar. 6 at 3 p.m. MT on ESPN+.