“We are really excited about our schedule this season,” Phillips said. “We have put together a really competitive nonconference schedule that will challenge our guys and prepare us for Big West play. We have some great road tests, an opportunity to play three games at the Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands, and some really good teams coming into the UCCU Center. We are pumped to start our first season in The Big West. It is a really good basketball league with great players and coaches, and we know we will have to compete at a high level every night. We can’t wait to get going and play in front of Wolverine Nation.”

Utah Valley opens the season at home against Western Colorado on Monday, Nov. 2, before hitting the road for back-to-back games at Weber State on Nov. 7 and Nevada on Nov. 14.

The Wolverines will then travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands for three games at the Paradise Jam, beginning against East Carolina on Friday, Nov. 20. UVU will play its second game of the tournament on either Nov. 21 or Nov. 22 before wrapping up the event on Nov. 23. The Wolverines’ final two opponents will be determined by tournament results.

UVU returns to Orem to host San Jose State on Nov. 28 before making its Big West debut on the road at Long Beach State on Dec. 3. The Wolverines will play their first Big West home game two days later when fellow conference newcomer Sacramento State visits the UCCU Center on Dec. 5.

Utah Valley then returns to nonconference play with road games at Pacific on Dec. 12 and Boise State on Dec. 16 before returning home to host Justice University on Dec. 21.

The Wolverines close out the calendar year with a Big West home matchup against Cal State Bakersfield on Dec. 31 and open 2027 against CSUN at the UCCU Center on Jan. 2.

UVU’s first California road swing of the new year takes the Wolverines to UC San Diego on Jan. 7 and UC Irvine on Jan. 9. Utah Valley then returns home for four straight games, hosting UC Santa Barbara on Jan. 14, Cal Poly on Jan. 16, California Baptist on Jan. 21, and UC Riverside on Jan. 23.

The Wolverines close January with road games at CSUN on Jan. 28 and Cal State Bakersfield on Jan. 30 before continuing the road stretch at UC Riverside on Feb. 4 and California Baptist on Feb. 6.

UVU returns to the UCCU Center to host UC Irvine on Feb. 11 and UC San Diego on Feb. 13 before traveling to Cal State Fullerton on Feb. 18 and Sacramento State on Feb. 20.

Utah Valley plays its final two home games of the regular season against Long Beach State on Feb. 25 and Cal State Fullerton on Feb. 27 before closing the regular season on the road at Cal Poly on March 4 and UC Santa Barbara on March 6.

The Wolverines then make their first appearance at The Big West Championship, which will be held March 10-13 in Henderson, Nevada.

Utah State hammers No. 13 BYU women’s soccer

LOGAN, Utah – Bell Field’s 3,181 mostly Utah State fans were treated to the women’s soccer program’s largest margin of victory over a ranked team on Thursday.

The Aggies dominated No. 13 BYU women’s soccer 4-0, the worst in-state loss in Cougar history.

For the first time this season, BYU was outshot and surrendered more than one goal. Utah State had 22 shots while the Cougars had nine.

True freshman Diana Tuilevuka played her first collegiate minutes in tonight’s match.

With its third corner kick of the night in the 10th minute, Utah State found the back of the net off a header from Summer Sofonia to take an early 1-0 lead.

The Aggies jumped on top from the beginning, holding a 6-0 advantage in shots through the first 20 minutes.

BYU’s first shot of the match came from Sophie Sivulich in the 22nd minute, but it was saved by the Utah State goalkeeper.

For the first time this season, the Cougars were held to just two shots through the opening 45 minutes, while the Aggies recorded 10. Utah State also held the advantage in corner kicks, 4-2.

The Cougars came out of halftime with pressure on the Utah State backline, but an Aggie counterattack in the 48th minute resulted in a left-footed goal by Summer Diamond to extend the lead to 2-0.

After winning the ball in the BYU box in the 68th minute, Utah State scored its third goal of the night from Solena Sellers, the most any team has scored on the Cougars this season.

With less than two minutes remaining in the match, Utah State’s Victoria Espinoza scored off another corner kick, bringing the final score to 4-0.

The Aggies went 4-0 in the non-conference against in-state foes, also beating UVU and Utah by 1-0 scores and Utah Tech 8-1.

BYU (4-2-1, 0-0 Big 12) opens Big 12 play on the road at Arizona on Friday, Sept. 18 at 8:30 p.m. MDT. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.

Women’s golf finishes ninth at The Bruzzy

TROPHY CLUB, Texas — BYU women’s golf (292-287-290-869) finished ninth at 5-over-par at The Bruzzy, presented by Ashley Herrera, at Trophy Club Country Club on Wednesday.

Senior María José “MJ” Barragán shot a 9-under 207 over three rounds to place sixth and set a 54-hole career best, leading BYU in the tournament. No other Cougar finished in the top 25.

“I’m super proud of MJ this week, showing how hard she worked this summer,” head coach Carrie Roberts said. “We have some work to do and will get after it for the next one.”

Barragán shot a 4-under 68 in the final round, matching her 18-hole career best. She opened the final round with birdies on the first and seventh holes before adding back-to-back birdies on Nos. 14 and 15. She played the rest of the round at even par to finish 4 under.

“I’m really happy that all the work I put in during the off-season is paying off,” Barragán said. “I’m believing in the process.”

Oklahoma (274-283-274-831) earned the team title at 33 under, posting a 14-under-par final round. UTSA (282-279-280-841) finished second at 23 under, while Texas A&M (281-283-279-843) finished third at 21-under par. Illinois (284-283-285-852) and Nebraska (288-279-285-852) came in at 12-under par to round out the top five.

The Cougars next compete in Lubbock, Texas, at the Red Raider Invitational at The Rawls Course on Sept. 22-23.