Completed Event: Women's Basketball at Eastern Kentucky on March 19, 2026 , Loss , 58, to, 72
Final Score
Women's Basketball
58
at Eastern Kentucky
72
The University of Utah Athletics
Utah Women's Basketball Notes
2/10/2004 12:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 10, 2004
SALT LAKE CITY -
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
COMING UP:
The league-leading Utah women's basketball team (17-4, 7-0) hosts Colorado State (12-8, 3-4) at 7 p.m. this Thursday, Feb. 12, at the Huntsman Center. The game will be broadcast live on KALL-700 AM in Salt Lake City and on the Internet at www.utahutes.com.
A QUICK LOOK AT UTAH:
Utah solidified its place atop the Mountain West Conference standings with a 72-55 win at UNLV last Sunday. The Utes shot 54 percent from the field on the game and held the Lady Rebels to just 34 percent. Utah also out-rebounded UNLV 34 to 33. Sophomore All-America candidate Kim Smith posted her fifth double-double of the season and her second in a row, finishing with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Kelsy Stireman finished with 16 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals, while junior Lana Sitterud had 12 points. Senior Carley Marshall pulled down six rebounds and sophomore Shona Thorburn finished with seven points, four rebounds, three assists and a blocked shot.
On the season, the Utes are led by Smith, who averages 16.0 points and 7.5 rebounds, and Thorburn, who adds 11.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. As a team, Utah is holding opponents to just 53.1 points per game and has an average margin of victory of 13.3 points.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION:
A 21-0 run to start the game gave Colorado State its second consecutive victory, an 83-46 win over the Air Force Academy last Saturday in Moby Arena. The Rams got a career-high tying scoring performance by sophomore Lindsay Thomas with 19 points, while sophomores Melissa Dennett and Vanessa Espinoza each scored 18 points in the win. Dennett also led all players with nine rebounds and senior guard Jasai Ferrucho added nine assists and five steals.
The Rams have four players - Dennett (13.4), Espinoza (12.4), Thomas (12.1) and Joy Jenkins (11.1) - averaging double figures scoring this season. Thomas leads the team in rebounding with 7.4 per game. As a team, CSU is out-rebounding its opponents 37.5 to 35.1 and outscoring them by an average of 7.6 points per game.
SERIES SHORTS:
Utah leads the all-time series with the Rams 45-13. The last time the two teams met, on Jan. 17 of this year, Utah won 55-51 in Fort Collins, Colo., snapping the Rams' 17-game MWC home winning streak . The Utes are 25-4 at home, 19-8 away and 1-1 at a neutral site vs. Colorado State.
AP TOP 25 POLL FEB. 9, 2004
Rank School 03-04 Total Last (first-place votes) Record Points Week1. Texas (29) 21-2 1,154 3 2. Connecticut (18) 18-2 1,143 4 3. Tennessee 19-2 1,067 1 4. Duke 18-3 1,014 2 5. Purdue 19-2 1,013 6 6. Louisiana Tech 17-2 863 8 7. Texas Tech 20-3 862 9 8. Penn State 18-4 844 5 9. Kansas State 17-3 835 10 10. Minnesota 18-3 798 13 11. Stanford 17-5 620 7 12. Colorado 18-3 613 11 13. DePaul 20-2 597 15 14. Auburn 18-5 511 19 15. North Carolina 18-4 496 12 16. LSU 18-4 463 14 17. Michigan State 18-4 390 20 18. Baylor 17-5 357 17 19. Georgia 16-6 260 16 20. Florida 16-5 255 24 21. Virginia Tech 17-4 250 21 22. TCU 18-4 218 18 23. SW Missouri State 19-1 131 25 24. Arizona 18-5 120 NR 25. Houston 19-3 94 NR
Others receiving votes: Miami 90, Utah 58, Boston College 40, Notre Dame 30, Oklahoma 25, Arizona State 21, West Virginia 14, Villanova 11, Montana 5, George Washington 4, Marquette 4, Chattanooga 2, Vanderbilt 2, UC Santa Barbara 1.
ESPN/USA TODAY POLL FEB. 10, 2004
Rank School 03-04 Total Last (first-place votes) Record Points Week1. Connecticut (28) 18-2 982 3 2. Texas (11) 21-2 958 4 3. Tennessee 19-2 925 1 4. Duke 18-3 863 2 5. Purdue 19-2 859 5 6. Louisiana Tech (1) 17-2 759 8 7. Texas Tech 20-3 756 9 8. Penn State 18-4 694 6 9. Kansas State 17-3 677 11 10. Minnesota 18-3 629 12 11. Stanford 17-5 561 7 12. Colorado 18-3 552 10 13. DePaul 20-2 513 15 14. North Carolina 18-4 440 13 15. Michigan State 18-4 366 18 16. LSU 18-3 352 16 17. Georgia 16-6 346 14 18. Auburn 18-5 294 22 19. Virginia Tech 16-4 265 21 20. Baylor 17-5 242 17 21. Houston 18-3 183 23 22. TCU 18-4 182 19 23. Miami (Fla.) 16-4 127 20 24. Oklahoma 14-6 96 24 25. Boston College 16-5 87 25
Others receiving votes: Southwest Missouri State (19-1) 84; Florida (16-5) 48; Arizona (18-5) 30; Arizona State (15-6) 29; Chattanooga (20-2) 26; Notre Dame (14-8) 20; Utah (17-4) 13; Vanderbilt (16-6) 10; Villanova (16-5) 8; Montana (18-4) 6; Creighton (14-6) 5; Liberty (15-6) 5; George Washington (16-5) 3; Arkansas (14-7) 2; Southern California (12-9) 2; Rutgers (13-8) 1.
MWC STANDINGS
Conference Overall W L Pct. W L Pct.UTAH 7 0 1.000 17 4 .810UNLV 5 2 .714 16 4 .800 New Mexico 5 2 .714 13 7 .650 Wyoming 4 3 .571 8 12 .400 Colorado State 3 4 .429 12 8 .600 BYU 2 5 .286 12 9 .571 San Diego State 2 5 .286 7 13 .350 Air Force 0 7 .000 3 17 .150
MWC LEADERS:
As a team, the Utes rank in the top half of nearly every statistical category. Utah leads the conference in scoring margin (+13.3), field goal percentage (.452), three-point field goal percentage (.398), rebounding defense (30.8), assists (15.1), turnover margin (+2.3), three-point field goal average (7.0) and assist/turnover ratio (1.2), and ranks second in scoring defense (53.1), third in scoring (66.4), rebounding margin (+4.1) and field goal percentage defense (.384), and fourth in free throw percentage (.700).
In conference games only, the Utes rank in the top half of every statistical category but blocked shots and steals.
Individually, sophomore Kim Smith ranks third in scoring (16.0), defensive rebounds (4.9) and three-point field goal average (1.8), fourth in rebounding (7.5) and field goal percentage (.500), fifth in three-point field goal percentage (.425), seventh in offensive rebounds (2.6) and ninth in free throw percentage (.706). Sophomore Shona Thorburn ranks third in assists (3.6) and assist/turnover ratio (1.6), seventh in three-point field goal average (1.4), 11th in scoring (11.7) and three-point field goal percentage (.345) and 13th in rebounding (5.6). Senior Kelsy Stireman ranks third in steals (2.2), fifth in assist/turnover ratio (1.4) and ninth in assists (3.1), while senior Carley Marshall is seventh in field goal percentage (.483). Sophomore Julie Wood leads the league in three-point field goal percentage (.507) and ranks fourth in three-point field goal average (1.7), while senior Mandie Little is six in field goal percentage (.496).
SMITH NAMED MWC PLAYER OF THE WEEK FOR FEB. 2-8:
Kim Smith was named MWC Player of the Week for Feb. 2-8, marking her first career award. Smith helped the Utes remain unbeaten in conference play after averaging a double-double last week. In a 56-29 victory at San Diego State, the All-America candidate tallied her seventh career double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds, while also picking up two blocks and two steals. In a 72-55 victory at UNLV, Smith tallied 20 points and 10 boards. She connected on all five free throw attempts vs. the Rebels and collected two assists and a steal. For the week, Smith averaged 18 points, 11.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 1.5 assists and 1.0 blocks, while shooting 52 percent from the field (13-of-25) and 88 percent from the free throw line.
RANKING NATIONALLY:
In NCAA statistics through Feb. 9, Utah ranks third nationally in three-point field goal percentage (.398) and turnovers per game (12.8), fourth in scoring defense (53.1), 13th in winning streak (7) and personal fouls per game (14.4), 17th in three-point field goal average (7.0), 20th in scoring margin (13.3), 21st in won-lost percentage (.810) and 24th in field goal percentage (.452).
LIVE BY THE THREE, DIE BY THE THREE:
Utah, which is shooting 40 percent from three-point range this season, has connected on 30 or more percent of its treys in all but four games (UC Santa Barbara, Oklahoma, Weber State, UNLV) this season, with two of those four games resulting in losses for the Utes. Utah has shot 50 percent or better from downtown seven times this season and won those games by an average of 23.9 points.
HOME SWEET HOME:
Utah, 8-0 at home, has won 24 games in a row at the Huntsman Center, dating back to the 2001-02 season. That is tied with Louisiana Tech and Western Illinois for the third longest home win streak in the nation behind Texas (31) and Arizona (25).
Last year, Utah went a perfect 13-0 at home. It was the ninth time Utah recorded an undefeated home season in the program's 30 years of existence. The Utes' last home loss came on Jan. 31, 2002, when the team fell 79-71 to UNLV.
WINNING THE REBOUNDING BATTLE:
Utah has out-rebounded its opponent in all but five games this season (UC Santa Barbara, Fresno State, Oklahoma, Oregon State and Brigham Young), and three of the Utes' four losses came when they were out-rebounded by their opponent.
TAKING CARE OF THE BALL:
Utah, which currently ranks third nationally in turnovers per game, has only committed more turnovers than its opponent on three occasions (Washington State, Northern Arizona and Montana) this season. The Utes have committed 10 or fewer turnovers in five games and 15 or fewer in 15 of 22 games this season.
AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR:
Midway through MWC play last season, Utah was 17-3 and 7-0 in conference play, as compared to 17-4 and 7-0 this season. Both the Utes' field goal and three-point field goal percentages are up this year compared to last. Utah is shooting 45 percent from the field and 40 percent from downtown this season as compared to 42 percent and 37 percent, respectively, at this time last year. The Utes also have more field goals made and assists, and fewer turnovers than at this point in the season last year.
CONSISTENCY IN THE STARTING LINEUP:
Utah is the only team in the Mountain West Conference to have the same five players start every game this season. The Utes start three seniors - Mandie Little, Carley Marshall and Kelsy Stireman - and two sophomores - Kim Smith and Shona Thorburn. Stireman has started all but two games on her career (109 of 111), while Smith and Thorburn have started all 52 games since coming to Utah.
STEADY SMITH:
Sophomore Kim Smith has reached double digits scoring in 49 of 52 games on her career at Utah. She also has one or more treys in 46 of 52 career games. This season alone, Smith has at least one three-pointer in 18 of 21 games and has pulled down five or more rebounds in 19 of 21 games.
THORBURN DOES IT ALL:
Shona Thorburn, who ranks second on the team in scoring and rebounding, has reached double figures scoring 11 times this season and has scored five or more points in all 21 games. The guard also has at least one assist in 20 of 21 games, one three-pointer in 15 of 21 games and five or more rebounds in 12 of 21 games.
MARSHALL AND LITTLE DEPENDABLE INSIDE:
Senior post players Mandie Little and Carley Marshall have come up big for the Utes this season. Marshall has shot 50 percent or better from the field in 14 games, while Little has done the same in 12 of 21 games. In addition, Marshall has four or more rebounds in 14 games and Little has four or more boards in 12 of 21 games this season.
STIREMAN RUNS THE POINT, DEFENDS WELL:
Senior point guard Kelsy Stireman has at least one steal in 17 of 21 games this season. She grabbed three steals in four games, four steals in four games and nabbed a career-high seven steals against Weber State. She also has three or fewer turnovers in 16 of 21 games and at least one assist in 19 of 21 games.
WOOD DEADLY FROM DOWNTOWN:
Sophomore Julie Wood is a pure three-point shooter. Of her 41 baskets this season, 35 are from downtown. Additionally, all five of her double-digit scoring games came when she made three or more three-pointers.
SITTERUD SHUTS DOWN MWC'S TOP PLAYERS:
Junior captain Lana Sitterud has been huge in some of the Utes' recent wins, even if it might not show up in the statistics. Last Sunday at UNLV, Sitterud, defending RanDee Henry, held the junior to just six points on 1-of-11 shooting. It was the first time all season that Henry didn't reach double figures scoring. At Brigham Young, sophomore Ambrosia Anderson had 17 points and nine rebounds in the first half. Utah made some adjustments, putting Sitterud on Anderson, and the Cougar was held to just five points and four rebounds in the second half.
SMITH ON PACE TO REACH 1,000 POINTS THIS SEASON:
Forward Kim Smith currently has 337 points on the year. Combined with her 540 from last season, the sophomore currently has 877 career points. With a minimum of eight games left this season, at her current pace, Smith would finish the season with 465 points, giving her 1,005 points on her career and making her the 18th Ute and just the second sophomore ever to reach 1,000 points.
UTES PICKED TO WIN MOUNTAIN WEST:
Utah was selected as the unanimous favorite to win the 2003-04 MWC crown. The Utes received all possible first-place votes to repeat as MWC regular-season champions (coaches cannot vote for their own team).
SMITH, THORBURN NAMED PRESEASON ALL-MWC:
Sophomore Kim Smith was tabbed as the MWC preseason Player of the Year and sophomore Shona Thorburn was also named to the preseason all-conference team. Smith earned Top Returning Player honors following a freshman campaign that saw her named MWC Player and Newcomer of the Year (a conference first), Kodak honorable mention All-America, and a Freshman All-American by both Full Court Press and womenscollegehoops.com. She is one of 35 players and just three sophomores nationally named to the Wade Trophy watch list.
Thorburn, a second-team all-conference pick last year, ranked sixth in the league in scoring, averaging 14.7 points per game. She led Utah in assists (3.3 per game) and minutes played (36.5) last season.
UTES ON THE RADIO:
All but two of Utah's remaining games this season (Feb. 21 and March 6) will be broadcast on KALL-700 AM. Anchoring the broadcast team is KALL-700 AM Sports Director Brad Stone. In his 14th year with the station, Stone is the host of the Ute men's basketball and football game broadcasts. Color commentary for Utah home games is done by Utah's all-time leading scorer, Julie Krommenhoek. Utah's 2003-04 road games are called by Chris Tunis, who served as the president of the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association from 1999-2001. The Feb. 21 and March 6 games can be heard live on the Internet at www.utahutes.com.
INTERNET AUDIO/VIDEO BROADCASTS:
All Utah women's basketball home games are available to be seen and heard on the Internet. To get to the game broadcasts, go to http://155.99.112.235/wbball/ or go to the women's basketball page at www.utahutes.com and click on "Watch/Listen to Utah Home Games Live." To watch/listen to the broadcasts, you are encouraged to a have high-speed internet connection. You will also need to have QuickTime Player installed on your computer. QuickTime Player is free software available at http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/. Although this is an Apple product, it can be loaded onto both Apple and PC machines.
UTES MAKE FIVE TELEVISION APPEARANCES:
Utah is making a school-record five regular-season appearances on television this season. ESPN2 televised the New Mexico at Utah match-up on Jan. 25, and will also broadcast the title game of the MWC Tournament. Fox Sports Net regionally televised Utah's wins at CSU on Jan. 17 and at UNLV on Feb. 8, and will also broadcast the BYU at Utah game on Feb. 28. MWC women's basketball will make its debut on College Sports Television (CSTV) when New Mexico hosts Utah on Feb. 19. CSTV will also televise the MWC Tournament semifinal games on March 12.
UP NEXT:
The Utes host Wyoming at 3 p.m. this Saturday, Feb. 14. The game marks the return to the Huntsman Center of former associate head coach Joe Legerski, now the head coach of the Cowgirls.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballUtah: 66, Cincinnati: 73 | Big 12 Tournament | Utah Basketball Postgame Press Conference
Wednesday, March 11
Utah: 75, Baylor: 101 | Utah Basketball Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, March 08
Utah: 78, Colorado: 92 | Utah Basketball Postgame Press Conference
Wednesday, March 04
Utah: 81, Colorado: 67 | Women's Basketball Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, March 01