SALT LAKE CITY – The University of Utah women's basketball team defeated Southern Utah 69-43 Wednesday night at the Jon M. Huntsman Center.
"I'm pleased that we won which the obvious goal anytime you put a uniform on," head coach
Lynne Roberts said. "I thought we did a great job defensively in the first half, but I'm not pleased with how we played in the second half."
We didn't play a complete game and that frustrates me. We have to be able to complete a full game to be competitive in the Pac-12. We won and we're happy about that, but we need to continue to improve and we will," Roberts continued.
Junior forward
Emily Potter grabbed her third double-double of the season scoring 20 points while pulling down 15 rebounds. Utah's (6-0) size played a role against Southern Utah (3-2) as the Utes tallied 42 points in the paint compared to the Thunderbird's 14 points.
Utah was able to spread the ball with all 11 players scoring at least one point while out-rebounding the Thunderbirds 59-49. Southern Utah was held to 13 points on 15.6 percent shooting from the floor with only four free-throw attempts in the first half.
Junior wing
Malia Nawahine opened the scoring with a 3-pointer to get the Utes going. The Utah bench made a push in the first quarter with two quick points from sophomore wing
Daneesha Provo.
Utah's defense held Southern Utah to 1-17 shooting from the floor in the third quarter as the Utes put up 20 points for a 25-point lead over the Thunderbirds leading into the half.
Nawahine knocked in another 3-point, this one from the corner to give the Utes a 31-point and hit a jump shot for the Ute's for their largest lead of the game (33). The Springville, Utah native scored 16 points while grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out three assists.
The Utes host in-state rival Utah State Saturday, Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. at the Jon M. Huntsman Center.