Call it a coincidence, or call it perfect timing, or call it the inspiration, but something's happened to the UVU women's basketball team and all signs point to a 17-year-old Orem girl.
The Wolverines had lost four games in a row and 14 of their past 15. They had just two wins on the season and hadn't won a road game all year before meeting Orem's Emily Austin.
The team met Austin after a practice and posed with her for a team photo, gave her and her family UVU T-shirts and vowed to help Austin in her battle with leukemia as part of their annual Pink with a Purpose game.
UVU coach Cathy Nixon told Austin that she was the team's good luck charm.
How right Nixon was. After meeting Austin, the Wolverines promptly won two road games and this past Friday they followed that up with a win over Texas-Pan American. Suddenly UVU is in the conference chase.
"We definitely have talked about it. When we met her we knew she was fighting a battle, and that she would inspire us," Nixon said. "On Saturday there were a lot of distractions - we were playing in a different gym (Activity Center) - so we really had to focus on what we needed to do, and that was to play a game we would be proud of and that Emily was proud of. Seeing her Saturday was motivating to our girls. We just hope we can do our part to help her with it."
The team is collecting donations for the family and all proceeds from Saturday's game are going to Emily to help her fight to stay alive. Those who would like to donate can still do so by going to www.wolverinegreen.com. Look for a Pink with a Purpose logo and click on it to find out how to donate.
During UVU's three-game winning streak, two players in particular came up big. Abby Beutler scored a career-high 27 points on Saturday, giving her an average of 17.7 points and 10 assists per game during the streak.
Another player who has helped UVU turn things is around is Sammie Jensen, who scored 20 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, has averaged a double-double in each of the last three games and now has 11 double-doubles for the season.
Robinson on the rebound: In every game Utah Valley University plays, Geddes Robinson will at some point look up to the person who is defending him.
The 6-foot-5 junior may be undersized for a power forward, but that hasn't stopped him from leading the Great West Conference in rebounding at 9.0 rebounds per game.
What in the name of Dennis Rodman is going on at UVU?
You don't have to be a seven footer to be a good rebounder.
"He's intelligent. He sees the ball and he's competitive and strong," said UVU coach Dick Hunsaker.
When asked about his knack for rebounding, Robinson said, "I just try to see where the ball is being shot from and after the shot I tried to time it and try to angle it and attack the glass. Me (Jordan) Swarbrick, Ben Aird and Justin Baker, we just all attack the glass at once. Sometimes I I'll get a tip and keep it alive and Justin will grab the rebound or Ben or Swarbrick. We just all attack it aggressively at one time."
Robinson did it again on Saturday in UVU's 64-42 win over Texas Pan-American, he pulled down nine rebounds.
"I have to give the credit to my teammates. We're all physical players and we all box out," Robinson said. "A lot of times i end up with the rebound, I just keep attacking aggressively."
Robinson is averaging 8.9 points in an average of 27 minutes per game and has helped UVU to improve to 7-1 in conference play.
When asked what his secret to rebounding, Robinson summed it up perfectly.
"I just want it more."
The color of money: There is nothing like getting paid to go to a basketball game. For some lucky UVU students, that's what's happened this year.
They got a check for attending a home game - a check for $1,000.
That's one way to increase their fan base.
The way the contest works is you must be a student to enter and you must be present to win. Each time a student attends a game he or she is entered into a drawing, and entries multiply with each game attended.
The promotion is run as a partnership between UVU and Pinnacle Security.
There have been plenty of stories from those who have won the money. One student used it to buy Christmas for their daughter. One student used to to fly home to see family, one student who was coming off devastating knee injury used it to help withe medical bills.
And finally, one student used the money to have more a college experience.
"The money I won gave me what I needed to move out and finally get my own place, said Matt Hardman, UVU student. "As a student, my budget is stretched pretty thin and something like this can be a real game changer. I even had some leftover and was able to use it for books and school fees."
Thursday, February 17, 2011
UVU women's basketball feeling lucky - Daily Herald
via news.google.com
