Utah opened the season strong, winning their first 11 games to head into Pac-12 Conference action undefeated. The Utes would finish with a 16-15 overall record, including 5-13 in league play.
Postseason History: Utah made its 29th postseason appearance (AIAW, WNIT and NCAA) in school history and the Utes are now 27-33 all-time in postseason play. This was Utah's ninth time in the WNIT and the Utes hold an 11-13 all-time record in the tournament. Roberts has led her teams to the postseason in each of her last six seasons, the last two with Utah.
GREAT news, Ute Fans! We'll be at home vs. @UCDavisWBB THIS Friday in The Huntsman for R1 of the @WomensNIT! Time TBD #GoUtes #Elevate pic.twitter.com/vR2rZdtGFL
— Utah WBasketball (@UTAHWBB) March 14, 2017
Utah's 1,000 Point Club
Two Utes earned their way into the elite 1,000-point club during the 2016-17 campaign. Senior wing Paige Crozon and redshirt junior forward Emily Potter are just two of 27 Utah women's basketball student-athletes to reach the milestone.
Paige Crozon (2012-17)............. 1,003
Emily Potter (2013-pres.)......... 1,248
Receiving Votes: Utah earned votes in both major polls after the first weekend of Pac-12 games. The Utes received 10 votes in the AP Poll and three votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll (1/2). The Utes were 1-12 overall and 1-1 in Pac-12 games when the Week 9 Polls were released.
Utah on the Boards: Utah out-rebounded its opponents in 16 games this season, forging a 1,279-1,227 record in such cases. Utah ranks fourth in the Pac-12 with 41.26 rebounds per game, in large part to Emily Potter who is seventh in the Pac-12 with rebounds (257) and rebounds per game (7.3).
The 2016-17 Starters…
Paige Crozon
The Ute's lone senior started every game of the 2016-17 campaign. The 6-1 wing hailing from Humboldt, Saskatchewan entered the elite 1,000-point club on a pair of free-throws late in the second quarter against UC Davis in the first round of the WNIT. She is just one of 27 Utes to reach that plateau. Crozon finished her career with 48 career double-figure scoring games. She made her mark in the Utah record book with a career free-throw percentage of 83.9 and 444 3-point attempts. She also finished the season with two double-doubles (Fresno State, Stanford). Crozon also earned Pac-12 all-academic honorable mention. Off the court, Crozon is set to graduate in May with a double degree in health promotion and business.
- Third in Utah record book in free-throw percentage of (83.9)
- Ninth in Utah record book in 3-point field goal attempts (444)
- Fifth in free-throw percentage in the Pac-12 (.827)
- 12th in 3-pointers made in the Pac-12 (1.6)
- 28th in scoring in the Pac-12 (10.1)
- Became the 27th Ute in the 1,000-point club the Utah's final game of the season
Emily Potter
Potter led the Utes this season, taking home several conference honors for her success on and off the court. The redshirt junior wing was named to the 11-defensive Pac-12 team, just one of six Pac-12 women's basketball student-athletes to earn the honor. She also claimed all-Pac-12 honorable mention as voted by the league's coaches. The media also named her to the Pac-12 Media all-defensive team and Pac-12 media all-Pac-12 team. She also earned Pac-12 all-academic honorable mention for her commitment to the classroom. Potter entered the 1,000-point club just 11 games into her junior season. Potter knocked down her 1,000th career point on a free-throw in the first quarter against Northern Arizona to emerge as one of just 26 Utes to reach the milestone. The Winnipeg, Manitoba native finished the season with nine double-doubles, and led the team in scoring (13.7) and rebounding (8.3) per game. She broke her own single-season record for blocks, swatting a Utah single-season high 88 shots. Potter sits second all-time in total block shots with 215 blocks with another season to play.
- First in Utah record book in single-season blocked shots (88)
- Second in Utah record book in career blocks (215)
- Tied for 17th in Utah record book career scoring (1,248)
- First in blocked shots per game in the Pac-12 (2.9)
- Ninth in offensive rebounds per game (2.8)
- Seventh in the Pac-12 in rebounding (8.3 )
- Fifth in field goal percentage in the Pac-12 (.511)
- Fifth in defensive rebounds per game (5.5)
- 13th in the Pac-12 in scoring (13.7)
Malia Nawahine
Junior wing Malia Nawahine is the Utes second-leading scorer with 10.6 points per game and finished the season with 18 double-figure scoring games. She scored a career-high 23 points against Oregon, including 5-of-7 from beyond the 3-point arc. Nawahine nabbed a career-high five steals in a 30-point win over Nevada. She is also second on the team with 59 assists on the season. The Springville, Utah native started 28 games for Utah, averaging 31.6 minutes per game to see the most floor time for the Utes. Nawahine also earned Pac-12 all-academic honorable mention.
- 24th in scoring in the Pac-12 (10.6)
- 11th in free-throw percentage in the Pac-12 (.730)
Tanaeya Boclair
Junior wing Tanaeya Boclair started 30 of 31 games, missing just one contest with an ankle sprain, and averaged 27.7 minutes of action. She was one of four Utes to finish the season with a double-figure scoring average (10.1). She also pulled down 4.3 rebounds per game. She piled up a career-high 19 points against Oregon (2/17) and tallied 16 double-figure scoring games.
- 27th in scoring in the Pac-12 (10.1)
- Tied for best free-throw game-high percentage of 1.000 (9-9 at Washington)
Erika Bean
Sophomore point guard Erika Bean stepped up for the Utes after playing behind a senior point guard one season ago. She started all but two games this season and saw significant minutes averaging 28.1 minutes of action. Bean finished with a career high of 12 points on the road against Pac-12 foe California. Despite being the shortest starter at 5-8, Bean finished the season as the third leading rebounder with 4.5 boards per game. Bean earned her first double-double of her career with 10 points and 10 assists at No. 10 UCLA. She dished out 173 assists, averaging 5.6 per game, good for third in the Pac-12 and 31st in the NCAA. Bean also earned Pac-12 all-academic honorable mention.
- Third in assists per game in the Pac-12 (5.6)
- Seventh in assist/turnover in the Pac-12 (1.9)
- 14th in steals per game in the Pac-12 (1.4)
Mixing it Up: Head coach Lynne Roberts featured three new starting lineups this season for the Utes. Daneesha Provo, Kiana Moore and Megan Jacobs were mixed into the starting five, while Paige Crozon and Emily Potter are the only Utes to start all 31 games this season.
Seeing Double: Junior forward Emily Potter tallied nine double-doubles in 31 games, while also averaging in double figures with 13.7 points per game. Senior wing Paige Crozon had two double-doubles on the season (Fresno State, Stanford). Sophomore guard Erika Bean earned her first double-double of her career with 10 points and 10 assists at No. 10 UCLA.
Up Next: Utah women's basketball is holding its annual End of Season Banquet Thursday, April 6 from 6-8:30 p.m. in Legacy Hall. RSVP at utahwbb@huntsman.utah.edu. Appetizers, buffet dinner, photobooth, prices, and a chance to mingle with the team will be included. The night will be hosted by Pac-12 Network Personality Kate Scott.
When @katetscott is going to MC your end-of-season banquet ???????? Join us & RSVP Today! pic.twitter.com/O2FpMCPZ6R
— Utah WBasketball (@UTAHWBB) March 20, 2017