Utes Fall 66-56 vs. Colorado At The Pac-12 Tournament

Thursday, March 1

Seattle, Wash.

12:30 PM

University of Utah

8-10, 17-13

Colorado

5-13, 15-15

Colorado

UTAH

Utes Fall 66-56 vs. Colorado At The Pac-12 Tournament

3/1/2018 3:30 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

SEATTLE – The University of Utah women's basketball team fell in the first round of the 2018 Pac-12 Women's Basketball Tournament to the Colorado Buffaloes, 66-56. Utah is 17-13 overall this season.

The Utes held a one-point lead at the end of the first quarter, but failed to get going on offense, allowing Colorado to take the advantage. Utah was able to keep it close through the third quarter, even cutting the lead to five points, but the Buffaloes went on to shoot 63-percent from the floor in the fourth to get the win.

"It was a tough one today," head coach Lynne Roberts said. "Certainly no one goes into this thing thinking you are going to lose. Colorado just played better than we did today. I think JR and her staff do a nice job, they are playing really confidently right now and they shot the ball well. It seemed like when we were poised to make a run, they answered and credit goes to them."

"I am proud of our team though, we have had a good season. We got 17 wins, but it was just kind of a bad day to have a bad day. I do love my team and we will regroup and get ready for post-season."

Utah was led in points by senior Tanaeya BoClair, who put up 12 that included going a perfect 2-for-2 from the three. Tori Williams added 11 points, four rebounds and four assists while Megan Huff was able to chip in nine points off the bench.

The Utes came out strong in the first quarter, shooting 54-percent from the floor while shutting down the perimeter with Colorado only managing 25-percent from the arc. Utah jumped out to a quick five-point lead with BoClair draining one of her threes early, but Colorado was able to chip away late in the quarter with the Utes holding a 14-13 advantage heading into the second.

Utah struggled offensively in the second quarter, shooting 21-percent from the field and just 14-percent from the three as Colorado went on a 9-0 run to take a 22-14 lead. The Utes answered with another three from BoClair, sparking some life into the Utah offense with a 5-0 run to make it a three-point game.

Colorado ended the second quarter on a 6-2 run, sending Utah into halftime down 28-21. Tilar Clark gave Utah some energy in the third quarter, scoring seven of her eight points in the period to keep the Utes at the Buffaloes' heels.

The Buffaloes held a nine-point lead with 4:16 left in the third quarter, but Clark hit a key three-pointer for the Utes with Huff hitting a free throw just moments later to cut the score to 40-35. Unfortunately for the Utes, the Buffaloes had an answer, scoring the last six points of the quarter to head into the fourth up 46-35.

Colorado was able to extend its lead in the fourth with their 63-percent shooting. Williams put up nine points in the fourth quarter with Huff adding six, but every run by the Utes, Colorado had a rebuttal. Two late threes from Williams helped make it a 10-point game, but Colorado was able to still come away with the win.

Stay tuned to UtahUtes.com on Monday, March 12 when women's basketball post-season tournament play will be announced.