*Photo Credit: Dave Iba, UVU Review*
Ladies are the Champs
By Kira Terry
The Wolverines played their last three games of the 2008-2009 season during the Division I Independent Tournament hosted by UVU March 5-7 and came away with the title.
The Wolverines played three games in three nights. It began with them facing NJIT for the third time this season. UVU came away with a 75-66 win.
An intense first half left the Wolverines with only a four-point lead at the break. UVU came out strong into the second half, giving NJIT no chance to take a lead.
Robyn Fairbanks scored an impressive 40 points to go along with her 16 rebounds. Julie McMurray recorded UVU's first triple double, scoring 19 points, having 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Asumi Nakayama contributed eight points and kept up her consistency with five assists.
The next night, UVU was back on the court for game two facing Longwood University. Once again, the Wolverines came away with a 81-73 win. Fairbanks had a rough night in foul trouble and eventually fouled out, but was able to contribute nine points and eight rebounds.
With Fairbanks out for nearly half of the game, teammate Sandy Wall and McMurray contributed high numbers. Wall had an impressive 26 points, five rebounds, an five assists. McMurray contributed 23 points with eight rebounds.
Game three was against Chicago State. By the half, it seemed UVU already has the game won. With a 23-point leas at the half, UVU kept up momentum and played their hearts out till the clock ran out. The Wolverines finished with an 80-55 win taking the championship into their hands.
Fairbanks became the 20th player in NCAA history to record 2,500 career points and 1,000 rebounds. Fairbanks fouled out with less than nine minutes to go, finishing her final game.
With just over one minute to go, Wall, Beaman, Smith, and Bowen began subbing out, finishing their final game at UVU. Each senior, as they walked off the court, received a standing ovation from the crowd, congratulating them on their impressive careers at UVU.
It was an emotional moment at center court for the players as they took their last run around the court and congratulated each other on an incredible season.
With the song 'We Are the Champions' playing, each team member stepped up on a ladder and cut down a piece of the net.
Dones-ville: population, seniors
By Kira Terry
Robyn Fairbanks, Sandy Wall, Lauren Smith, Hollie Beaman and Jordyn Bowen played their last basketball game for coach Cathy Nixon on March 7.
"They came here when Utah Valley was not respected by anyone on the Division I level and they have invested their heart and soul into the program," said an emotional Cathy Nixon.
With the many records and milestones that Robyn Fairbanks made during her career at UVU she will easily go down as one of the greatest players to have ever played for Nixon, much less the school.
Fairbanks credits her milestones not just to herself, "I have great teammates. There's no better way to go out than on top so we're very lucky and we worked really hard. It's just a great group of girls to be with and share this with."
Four years ago these five players joined a team not knowing how their senior season would go and completely turned the program around. "We started out loosing every game and now were winning championships, that's a big change for us," said Beaman.
Nixon couldn't thank her seniors enough for what they have done for her program. "It takes teamwork to be successful and wow what an amazing impact those kids have had on this program," added Nixon. "I certainly will never forget them and am grateful for their willingness to come and build this program to the level that it's at."
Jordyn Bowen spent most of her senior year on the bench assisting the coaching staff due to an injury, but was able to play in the last few games. "It was a great learning experience and a lot of good friendships that are going to last a lot longer than just these four years," said Bowen.
Sandy Wall's season has been filled with many high scoring games. "I wouldn't want to be going through the program with any other seniors," said Wall. "It was definitely memories and experiences that built that up, an it was a great experience to be able to come in and make a change as seniors."
Lauren Smith was able to play 17 of the team's 27 games during her senior season and says, "I learned a lot and I wouldn't have traded it for anything."
"We had a dream of that class of seniors being able to go out as champions because they have been champions all along. It certainly is great to see them be able to celebrate that, cut down nets, and to celebrate what they've accomplished since they've been here. It's just been a great ride for me as a coach," concluded Nixon.
