Women's Basketball Suffers 70-63 Loss At Xavier

Thursday, November 7

Cincinnati, OH

5:00 PM

University of Utah

0-2,0-0Pac-12

Xavier

1-0,0-0Big East

Utah

Xavier

Women's Basketball Suffers 70-63 Loss At Xavier

11/7/2019 7:29 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

CINCINNATI, Ohio – The University of Utah women's basketball team suffered a 70-63 loss on the road at Xavier tonight to fall to 0-2 overall this season.

The Utah offense struggled to get going from the start with the Utes shooting 36-percent from the floor, but the defense stayed strong and kept the Utes in the game until the end. Xavier only shot 36-percent from the floor as well while the Utes forced 14 turnovers.

The Utes only trailed by two points with less than a minute to play in the game off a three-pointer from Andrea Torres, but free throws by the Musketeers ended up deciding the game down the stretch.

"Congratulations to Xavier," head coach Lynne Roberts said. "I thought they played really well and extremely hard. I'm disappointed in the outcome – we aren't used to this, but it's a marathon of a season and we have to keep coaching and teaching and bringing this young, new group together. We'll keep chopping wood and we will get there."

True freshman Brynna Maxwell had an outstanding performance for the Utes, leading the team with 15 points, six rebounds, three steals and an assist. Andrea Torres added 12 points and six boards while freshman Kemery Martín contributed eight points with six of her points coming in the second half.

Utah got off to a slow start after going on a field goal drought for over six minutes that resulted in Xavier taking a 10-point lead with 2:01 to play in the first quarter. Martín got things going with 1:14 on the clock with a reverse layup to end the drought with Dru Gylten hitting a deep three-point buzzer beater to send the Utes into the second quarter down 21-15.

Gylten's last second shot in the first quarter sparked offensive momentum for the Utes in the second quarter as they went on a 12-0 run that included a key three-pointer from Maxwell to give Utah a 22-21 lead with 7:29 on the clock. The Utes hit a wall late in the quarter though, going without a field goal for over five minutes, eventually heading into halftime with a 29-28 lead after Torres hit a three-pointer at the 1:55 mark.

The Utes continued to push as they entered the third quarter, quickly going on a 7-2 run to take a 36-32 lead at the 8:06 mark with Maxwell scoring five of Utah's first seven points of the quarter to put her in double figures. Xavier made it a one-point game with 7:15 on the clock, but the duo of Maxwell and Lola Pendande battled for boards and buckets with Maxwell sinking a dagger from the top of the key to give Utah a 42-37 lead with 6:04 left to play in the quarter.

Utah hit another offensive slump late in the third quarter as Xavier went on an 8-0 run to take a 45-42 lead with 2:31 left to play in the period. Martín tied the game with 1:51 left in the quarter on a long jumper with Niyah Becker and Julie Brosseau hitting clutch free throws down the stretch to end the quarter with the Utes ahead 49-47.

In the first three minutes of the fourth quarter, the Utes were called for five fouls, but Xavier was only able to take a three-point lead after making four free throws during that stretch to give them a 56-53 lead. Despite scoring woes contining to plague the Utes, they battled back again from a five-point deficit to make it a three-point game with 2:12 on the clock after Pendande got a backdoor layup.

After trailing by five with less than a minute to play, Torres hit a huge three to make it 65-63, but with time against them, the Utes were then forced to foul. Xavier converted on five free throws in the final 35 seconds with the Utes unable to produce a basket with the Musketeers claiming the 70-63 win.

Utah will return to action on Saturday, Nov. 16 when they host South Dakota for its home opener. The game will tip off at 12 p.m. MT with multiple football experiences being given away during the game.