OPENING TIP
 

• The Snow College women's basketball team will return home for the first time in over a month as it takes on No. 10 Salt Lake Community College.

 

• The Badgers will take on the Bruins inside the Horne Activity Center with tipoff scheduled for 5:00 p.m.

 

• Snow College is coming off back-to-back wins for the first time this season.  After defeating Western Wyoming Community College 68-67 in overtime last weekend, the Badgers defeated the College of Southern Nevada twice in Las Vegas.  Snow College won 65-60 Friday followed by a thrilling 51-49 victory Saturday to extend its winning streak to three games.

 

• The Badgers trailed 57-56 with 50 seconds to go in Friday's game but were able to rattle off nine of the final 12 points to secure the victory.  This marks the second time this season the Badgers have been trailing by three or fewer with under a minute to go and won the game.

 

• Enid Vaifanua gave the Badgers the lead late in Saturday's game.  After being fouled, she made one of two free throws giving Snow College a 50-49 lead with 50 seconds to go.  Snow College forced two missed layups and a turnover in the final minute to secure the victory.

 

• The Badgers shot just 1-10 from 3-point range in their 51-49 victory over CSN Saturday.  This is the Badger's second worst 3-point performance of the season.  Snow College failed to make a 3-pointer in 15 attempts in their 56-50 loss to Laramie County Community College Nov. 19. 

 
BY THE NUMBERS
 

• Snow College has struggled from the field this season and is connecting on just 37.5 percent of field goal attempts this season.  This mark slots them just outside the top 100 in the nation.

 

• The Badgers are the 30th-best team in the country at opponent's 3-point field goal percentage.  Snow College allows opponents to connect on just 24.1 percent of shots from distance this season. 

 

• The Bruins are averaging 76.3 points per game this season which is good for 26^th in the country in scoring.  

 

• SLCC is one of the most efficient scoring offenses in the nation shooing 44.2 percent on field goal attempts this season which slots them at 20^th overall.

 

• The Bruins are one of the best rebounding teams in the nation.  They average 46.3 rebounds per game and outrebound their opponents by an average margin of 18.4 rebounds per game, both of which are 15^th overall.

 

• SLCC, much like Snow College, is good at defending the 3-point line this season.  They are allowing opponents to shoot just 23.3 percent from beyond the arc which is good enough for 21^st in the country.

 
ABOUT SALT LAKE 
 

• SLCC is a perfect 8-0 overall the season.  This is their best start to a season since the 2020-21 campaign which also saw them go 8-0 to begin the year.  The Bruins would go on to lose to Snow College 65-59 in the Region 18 Tournament to end their season.

 

• The Bruins are coming off a 2021-22 season that saw them go 21-9 overall and 12-6 within Scenic West Athletic Conference play.  They were defeated 64-56 in the semifinal round of the Region 18 Tournament by Snow College.  

 

• Snow College is 13-28 overall against SLCC since 2012.  Snow College lost a string of 12 games in a row between Jan. 24, 2015, and Feb. 3, 2018.  The Badgers have won two out of their last three against the Bruins with the most recent victory coming in the 2021-22 Region 18 Tournament.

 
LAST TIME OUT
 
The Snow College women's basketball team claimed two victories over the College of Southern Nevada Friday and Saturday in Las Vegas to begin Scenic West Athletic Conference play.  The Badgers won 65-60 Friday followed by a 51-49 victory Saturday.
 
The Badgers came into the weekend having wrapped up their non-conference schedule at the Vista Auto Thanksgiving Classic.  They were defeated by No. 18 Casper College before claiming a thrilling 68-67 overtime victory against Western Wyoming Community College.
 
The Coyotes entered the weekend series having lost back-to-back games and three out of their last four.  Snow College would extend the Coyote's losing streak to four games.
 
The Badgers struggled out of the gate in Friday's game.  They fell into an early 16-3 hole in the first quarter and would trail by 12 after the first ten minutes.  The Badgers would cut into the lead and only trailed by seven at halftime.
 
The Coyotes would extend the lead back to 11 in the opening minutes of the third quarter.  Snow College quickly turned things around and outscored CSN 22-10 throughout the rest of the quarter to take a 48-47 lead into the final period.
 
It was a back-and-forth final period that saw five ties and two lead changes.  CSN held a two-point lead with under two minutes to go but the Badgers finished the game on a 10-3 run to earn the 65-60 victory.  The Badgers were aggressive in getting to the free-throw line in the fourth quarter getting to the charity stripe 14 times.
 
Grayce Glover led three Badgers in double figures finishing with 14 points and seven rebounds.  Enid Vaifanua put in 13 points while Samiana Suguturaga added 10 points and four rebounds to aid in the victory.  
 
Saturday's matchup was similar as the Badgers eked out a 51-49 victory.  After finishing the first quarter in a 14-14 tie, Snow College took a 35-28 lead at the halftime break.
 
The Badgers struggled in the third quarter only scoring four points in the period.  As a result, the game stood tied at 42 heading into the final quarter.  The Coyotes grabbed a one-point lead early in the period, but the Badgers would not be denied.  They went on an 8-2 run to take a five-point lead with under three minutes to play.
 
The Coyotes would storm back to tie the game at 49 with a minute to go.  Vaifanua was fouled and sent to the free-throw line where she made one of two to give the Badgers the lead.  The Badgers would force two missed layups and a turnover over the final minute and Glover sealed the 51-49 victory at the free-throw line.
 
Suguturaga finished with 12 points and four rebounds to lead the Badger's offense.  Vaifanua added 11 points in the victory.
 
KEYS TO THE GAME
 

• Take care of the ball:  Snow College has struggled this season with turnovers.  They are averaging 19.6 turnovers per game which is 125^th in the country.  When playing one of the best scoring teams in the country it is imperative the Badgers don't give the Bruins any more offensive opportunities.  If the Badgers can take care of the ball and give themselves the extra offensive opportunities, it will allow them to keep pace with the Bruins.

 

• Crash the glass:  One of the Bruin's biggest strengths is controlling both offensive and defensive rebounds – they are within the top 22 in the country in each category.  If the Badgers are able to crash the glass to prevent offensive rebounds while also regaining possession after forcing a miss, they will limit the opportunities the Bruins have offensively, and the Badgers can capitalize.

 
UP NEXT
 

• Snow College will head back out onto the road to take on Community Christian College Dec. 10.

 

• The Saints have struggled to start the year getting out to an 0-8 overall record.  This is coming off the heels of a 2021-22 season in which they went 0-28.  The Badgers won each of the three meetings last season with the Saints defeating them 95-32, 65-40, and 69-40.

 

• The game will take place Saturday in Redlands, California with tipoff scheduled for 3:00 p.m. PST.  For video streaming and live stat information, visit snowbadgers.com.