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Women's Basketball
vs Western Colorado (EXHIBITION)
Tuesday, November 17
Salt Lake City, Utah
7:00 PM
University of Utah
60
vs
59
Minnesota
Utes Win Home Opener, 60-59 Over Minnesota
11/17/2009 12:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 17, 2009
SALT LAKE CITY -The Utah women's basketball team picked up its first victory of the season with a 60-59 win over Minnesota on Tuesday, Nov. 17.
Taryn Wicijowski had her first career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Kalee Whipple led the Utes with 17 points while Janita Badon had a career-high 14 points Whipple also pulled down nine rebounds.
Both teams played tough defense early. With Minnesota (1-1) up 7-6, both teams went through a scoring drought that lasted for four minutes and 30 seconds. After the Gophers went up 9-6, the Utes (1-1) rallied back to score the next eight points and take a 14-9 lead with 7:41 remaining. Wicijowski had five points in the run (including a three-point play on a layup in the paint) and Rachel Messer hit a three-point basket to cap the rally. The two teams stayed close for the remainder of the half. Whipple's basket from just inside the arc at the buzzer gave the Utes the lead at the break, 28-26.
The basket just before the break helped give Utah a lead they would not relinquish though the second half. Although the Utes held as large as a nine-point lead with 13:39 left, 41-32, Minnesota stayed just within reach through the duration. Things got a little hairy with 3:49 left, as an Ashley Ellis-Milan jumper put the Gophers within two, 54-52.
Both teams had scoring droughts as the clock ticked down and struggled to hit shots over the next two minutes, but Utah pulled ahead by six, 58-52 with 1:32 left off a free-throw and three-pointer from Whipple. China Antione hit a three-pointer for the Gophers at the other end of the floor to keep the deficit at three, 58-55. Whipple just missed a three-pointer with 58 seconds left before Minnesota's Katie Ohm was fouled. She hit one of her two free-throws to again cut the lead to two with 45 seconds on the clock.
Each team turned the ball over on their next possessions before Whipple was fouled and hit both of her free throws to increase Utah's lead to four with 11 seconds left. Although Jackie Voigt hit a long three-point basket with three seconds remaining to come within a point, 60-59, Whipple was fouled with one second left and missed her free-throws to be able to grab the rebound and clinch Utah's first win of the season.
Messer had six points for the Utes. Halie Sawyer came away with four steals and three blocks in addition to six rebounds.
Minnesota was led by Ellis-Milan, who had 15 points and nine rebounds. Brittany McCoy and Antione each scored 10 points.
The Utes go on the road on Saturday, Nov. 21, to take on UCLA in the JHG Jam, hosted by San Diego State.
Players Mentioned
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