Utes Rally For A 58-56 Road Win At #22 Arizona State

Friday, January 19

Tempe, Ariz.

11:00 AM

University of Utah

13-5, 4-3

Arizona State

13-6, 4-3

UTAH

Arizona State

Utes Rally For A 58-56 Road Win At #22 Arizona State

1/19/2018 2:07 PM | Women's Basketball

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TEMPE, Ariz. – In what head coach Lynne Roberts called a signature victory for this season, the Utah women's basketball team came away with a 58-56 win on the road against No. 22 Arizona State. Utah improved to 13-5 overall and 4-3 in Pac-12 play.

Utah led by 10 in the first quarter and trailed by 11 late in the third, but after outscoring the Sun Devils 26-13 in the fourth, the Utes walked away with a top-25 win on the road. It was a team-win from top to bottom for the Utes with five different players contributing at least nine points.

"I thought in that fourth quarter we just started to play more aggressive and they started to play more slowly," Roberts said. "Arizona State is very good and I have so much respect for them. We talked about two things at halftime that I think we did in the second half. We talked about not turning it over and offensive rebounds. We didn't play perfectly, but we hung in there and I am so proud of our team. This was a game that was going to be about toughness and it really was."

Megan Huff led the Utes for the second straight game with 16 points and 14 rebounds. Tori Williams scored 10 points, including four clutch free throws, also dishing out three assists. Megan Jacobs came off the bench for nine points, four rebounds and three assists with Tilar Clark and Emily Potter also chipping in nine points each.

The Utes got off to a quick start on a 10-0 run in the first quarter, holding Arizona State scoreless until the 5:03 mark. The Sun Devils were able to counter by making the Utes go on a scoring drought of their own, cutting the Utah led to six heading into the second quarter.

It was the tale of two quarters for the Utes who came out of the gate slow in the second, allowing Arizona State to take a 26-20 lead on 17-3 run. Daneesha Provo was able to hit a three-pointer with seven seconds left in the quarter to make it a one-point game, but the Sun Devils hit a deep buzzer beater to put them back up by four heading into halftime.

The offensive struggles continued for the Utes in the third quarter with Arizona State taking a 10-point lead with 6:48 on the clock. Despite the troubles on offense, the Utah defense started to shine, holding the Sun Devils scoreless for over three minutes of the quarter along with forcing five turnovers.

Utah entered the fourth quarter down 43-32, but came out with a new sense of confidence, going on an 8-0 run that made it a three-point game with 7:41 remaining. Arizona State countered with four unanswered points to jump out to a 47-40 lead with less than five minutes to play, but Utah kept pushing as Huff, Jacobs and Potter hit key baskets to take back the lead with 1:02 on the clock.

With less than a minute to play, the Utes held a 52-51 lead, forcing Arizona State to foul. It was a one-point game with 19 seconds left to play, but Williams converted four free throws down the stretch to seal the Utah win.

Utah returns to action on Sunday, Jan. 21 when they travel to Tucson, Ariz. to take on the Arizona Wildcats. The game is set for a 12 p.m. MT tip on the Pac-12 Networks.