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Women's Basketball
vs Western Colorado (EXHIBITION)
Friday, November 24
Eugene, Ore.
6:00 PM
University of Utah
51
vs
59
Pittsburgh
Utah Women Fall to Pittsburgh, 59-51
11/24/2006 12:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 24, 2006
EUGENE, Ore. - The University of Utah women's basketball team suffered through a more-than five-minute scoring drought Friday night against the University of Pittsburgh. The Panthers' Shavonte Zellous took advantage of the scoring drought and led her squad to a 59-51 victory in the first round of the Duck Invitational at McArthur Court.
Utah (1-3) grabbed a 34-31 lead when Kalee Whipple (Fr., Hiko, Nev.) hit a jumper with 12:45 remaining. That was the last time the Utes would light the scoreboard for 5:02. Meanwhile, Zellous gave Pittsburgh (5-0) a 35-34 advantage with a basket and a pair of free throws.
Utah had its chances to grab the lead back, when Halie Sawyer (Fr., Panguitch, Utah) and Joh-Teena Filipe (So., Salt Lake City) went to the free-throw line on back-to-back possessions. Neither Ute could convert, however. Zellous then heated up again, scoring on a three-pointer and a layup to put her team on top 40-34 with eight minutes remaining.
Morgan Warburton (So., Helper, Utah) finally ended Zellous' scoring streak at nine unanswered points with 7:43 left in the contest. Warburton's jumper pulled the Utes within four points and sparked a 6-0 run to tie the contest at 40-40. Zellous then scored four more consecutive points to give Pittsburgh a lead it wouldn't relinquish.
The Panthers converted eight-of-nine free throws over the final two minutes to put the game on ice.
Utah led for much of the first half, but could never pull away from Pittsburgh. The Utes built their biggest advantage of the contest when Warburton hit a three-pointer with 7:41 left in the first half to put Utah on top 16-10. But the Panthers outscored the Utes 17-8 over the remainder of the first half to take a 27-24 advantage into the locker room at the intermission.
The contest was extremely close, statistically. Both teams made 18 field goals. Pittsburgh out-rebounded Utah 30-27. The Utes had 20 turnovers, while the Panthers had 19. But the difference was at the free-throw line. Pittsburgh got to the line more often and converted at a higher rate than Utah. The Panthers were 21-of-24 at the charity stripe, while the Utes were just 11-of-17.
Zellous finished with a game-high 28 points for Pittsburgh. Marcedes Walker was the only other Panther in double figures with 12 points. Warburton scored 23 points to lead Utah and was the only Ute in double figures. She also grabbed a game-high six rebounds.
Utah will be in action again Saturday evening for the consolation game of the Duck Invitational. The Utes will play either Boise State or Oregon, depending on the outcome of their late game Friday night.
-UU-
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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