Utah Pushes Past Alabama, 72-62

Tuesday, November 13

Salt Lake City, UT

7:00 PM

University of Utah

Alabama

Utah

11/13/2018 10:01 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

SALT LAKE CITY – It was a close, physical game tonight in the Jon M. Huntsman Center with the Utah women's basketball program coming away with a 72-62 win over Alabama. Utah improved to 2-0 overall this season.

The Utes finished the game shooting 43-percent from the floor and 81-percent from the free throw line, coming in clutch down the stretch in a tight game against the Crimson Tide. Utah had five players reach double figures, led by senior Megan Huff.

"That was a great win and I am proud of our team," head coach Lynne Roberts said. "Obviously early in the season, no one is firing on all cylinders as far as execution. We had some questionable moments in terms of decision making, but I thought in the second half we did a really nice job. We also outrebounded them by 19, and that is huge because they are a very good rebounding team. I have a lot of respect for Alabama and their head coach, Kristy Curry, does a great job and knows how to win."

Huff scored 21 points and 12 rebounds for her second straight double-double while Dre'Una Edwards chipped in 10 points and 10 rebounds as well. Daneesha Provo laid in 12 points with Kiana Moore posting 11 points for her first double-digit game of the season.

Dru Gylten rounded out Utah's double-figure scorers with 10 points, also leading the Utes in assists with seven.

"We want this to be one of the hardest places to play because of the elevation and our style of play," Roberts said. "So that was key for us going into the game. To try and beat them up and down the floor a little bit. In the first half, I thought we were a little bit sloppy with that but in the second half, we got better"

There were nine lead changes in the game with the first quarter proving to be a close matchup. Utah struggled from the three in the first quarter, going just 2-for-8 while Alabama was able to take its biggest lead of the game at 16-11 with less than four minutes to go.

The Utes trailed by five heading into the second quarter and despite their continued struggles from the three, the Utah defense became stingy, forcing the Crimson Tide to just 27-percent from the floor. With less than two minutes to play in the second, the Utes took off on a 5-0 run, with three straight points from Edwards to give them the 32-29 halftime lead.

The third quarter was a different game with the Utes settling into their system and controlling the rhythm from inside out. Alabama shot just 1-for-7 from the three in the third while Utah went on a 6-0 run late, eventually taking a nine-point lead to end the quarter.

Utah's balanced offense remained in control in the fourth quarter with the Utes shooting 61-percent from the floor. The Utes were ahead by as much as 14 points with less than four minutes to go and although Alabama cut it to 10 late, key free throws from Gylten sealed the victory.

The Utes return to action this Friday, Nov. 16 when they host Long Beach State as part of a three-game home stand. The game is set to tip off at 7 p.m. MT and will be streamed live on UtahUtes.com.