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The University of Utah Athletics
Women's Basketball Seniors Building For The Future
2/21/2019 5:03 PM | Women's Basketball
When head women's basketball coach Lynne Roberts took over the program four seasons ago, she knew from the time that she stepped foot in the Huntsman Center that something special could take place. Utah is one of the top-20 winningest programs in NCAA Division I women's basketball history, a legacy that would take hard work and the right group to carry it.
Fast forward to the 2018-19 season, her fourth year at the helm, and Roberts has four seniors who have bought into every play, every drill, every rebound, every point and every season, win or lose. The quartet of Erika Bean, Megan Huff, Sarah Porter and Daneesha Provo have combined for 70 victories over the last four years, and although their journeys to the U. have been different, they have all played an integral part in a new era of Utah women's basketball.
Bean's journey started her senior year of high school at Bradshaw Christian High School in Sacramento, Calif., where she was a conference MVP, all-district and all-section selection. Bean was recruited by the coaching staff prior to Roberts' time, but with Utah's strong tradition and an attractive atmosphere, Bean remained committed, something she never regrets.
"Coming to this school has allowed me to find a home away from home amongst a great group of girls and forever friends," Bean said. "It has allowed me to receive an elite education while playing basketball at the highest level and against other elite athletes."
Bean, who plans to play basketball overseas professionally but also get her Master's in athletic training, is among those "elite" athletes in the Pac-12. The senior has ranked in the top-five in the league and top-30 in the nation in total assists and assists per game in the past two seasons and has also propelled herself into the top-five all-time at Utah in career assists.
Her game on the court has continued to improve each season, but Bean also looks at herself off the court as someone who has grown into a leader and a well-rounded person.
"I think I have grown in my leadership skills over the years," Bean said. "When I came here I was fairly shy and quiet, but in the past four years I have been pushed and challenged to be a leader by becoming more communicative, assertive and motivated."
Motivated is a word used to describe Provo as well, who came to Utah after spending her freshman season at Clemson in the ACC. The Dartmouth, Nova Scotia native averaged 15.1 minutes per game at Clemson, but knew in her heart that she needed a change and decided to withdraw from school and reopen her recruiting.
Jump to last season and Provo became one of the best three-point shooters in the Pac-12, ranking in the top-12 in both three-point percentage and three-pointers made per game. The Canadian connection may have drawn Provo to the University of Utah, but the experiences she has had on the court and off have made the decision one of the easiest of her life.
"Basketball means everything to me," Provo said. "I have been given so many opportunities because of this sport, it is unbelievable. It has allowed me to travel to 14 different countries to play the sport I love and it lets me get outside of myself and have fun."
Provo's basketball career has taken her from the ACC to Utah, to Team Canada and playing all over the world, something she is looking forward to continuing as a pro. Her season was cut short this year due to an injury against Arizona State in January when she was averaging 13.5 points per game, but she wouldn't trade her experience at Utah for anything.
"Utah basketball has meant so much to me," she said. "I got the opportunity to play the sport I love at the highest level in one of the top women's basketball conferences in the country but also get a great education to allow me to succeed in life."
Like Provo, getting a top-notch education was critical for Porter as she decided where she wanted to continue her academic and basketball career. The graduate transfer from UC Santa Barbara will only be with the Utes this season and has quickly made an impact on and off the court as an outstanding student and a lethal three-point shooter.
"My time here was short and while the adjustment was tough, I learned to embrace my new role of coming off the bench to knock down shots while also brining my four years of basketball experience to the court," Porter said. "I am in my Master's program of education in leadership and policy and I plan to study for my LSAT and hopefully take that by the end of this year and start applying to different law schools for the fall of 2020."
The Utes knew when recruiting Porter that she would fill an immediate roll as a three-point shooter and she hasn't disappointed. She ranks in the top-10 in the Pac-12 this season in three-point percentage and nearly broke the school record for threes in a game with her six against Seattle U earlier this season.
Porter's path to the Utes was a long one, starting her career at Ole Miss before transferring to UCSB where she was ranked in the top-15 in the Big West in three-point percentage her last two seasons. Although her path was long, she credits her family for helping her stay the course.
"My parents have been my guide every step of the way," she said. "My dad helped me throughout the recruiting process and I can always talk to him about school or basketball. My mom always did her best job to keep me on the right track, and the strength she has shown as a woman I have always tried to emulate. They both have always reminded me how proud they are of me."
Huff also attributes a lot of her success to her family, which was key in helping her decide to step away from being a two-sport athlete while at Hawaii. Huff, who was a standout volleyball and basketball player in high school, went to Hawaii to start her collegiate career in both.
The Federal Way, Wash., native was a two-time Big West Sixth Player of the Year in basketball for Hawaii, but knew her potential in basketball outweighed her love for volleyball. Huff transferred to Utah and after sitting out the 2016-17 season, she was ready to show what she could do in the best conference in the country.
In just two seasons, Huff has cracked the top-10 all-time at Utah in single-game points, single-season scoring average, career scoring average and career three-point percentage. She was first-team all-conference last season and through 25 games this year, she ranks in the top-five in the Pac-12 in scoring and rebounding and is second in double-doubles.
"I have grown completely as an individual since coming to Utah," she said. "I have been pushed in a lot of different situations to become better each day. The person I am today is a lot different than who I was when I first got here. I have matured in a lot of ways on and off the court and have learned how to deal with situations, and become stronger through situations, even when they push you to your breaking point."
Huff is currently a semifinalist for the Katrina McClain Award, given to the best power forward in the country, and also made the Naismith Midseason Team. Her success on the court over the past two seasons has been unmatched, but she can't help but focus on the memories she has made off the court as well.
"I loved the family atmosphere, the city and I believed in the coaching staff's vision for the program when I first committed here," Huff said. "Utah has been a place I have been able to meet so many new people and grow my family. Basketball has been something that has brought so many blessings into my life. Through basketball I have been able to find who I am." I don't think basketball necessarily defines me as a person, but the experiences through basketball and the people I have met are what make me who I am today."
From a young age, most collegiate basketball players, much like the Ute seniors, have a certain mindset instilled in them to persevere through all obstacles. With the final weekend of regular season home games looming for the Utes and just four regular season games remaining, that mindset will come into play in the coming weeks.
Olympian and WNBA star Sue Bird once said, "Never let fear of failing discourage you from trying." Whether it was tough losses, top-10 wins, or season-ending injuries, the Utah women's basketball seniors have set a precedence for future Utes to come – that having unrelenting determination is not an option.
"Utah basketball means loyalty, passion, family and to compete," Bean said. "These are the four values that make up the culture of our program. We consist of many types of individuals, but our bond makes us a family. We stand by one another and we are willing to fight at all costs with a desire for success because of our passion and love for the game of basketball."
Utah hosts Washington tomorrow in the Huntsman Center at 7 p.m. with Senior Day taking place against Washington State on Sunday at 12 p.m. MT.
Fast forward to the 2018-19 season, her fourth year at the helm, and Roberts has four seniors who have bought into every play, every drill, every rebound, every point and every season, win or lose. The quartet of Erika Bean, Megan Huff, Sarah Porter and Daneesha Provo have combined for 70 victories over the last four years, and although their journeys to the U. have been different, they have all played an integral part in a new era of Utah women's basketball.
Bean's journey started her senior year of high school at Bradshaw Christian High School in Sacramento, Calif., where she was a conference MVP, all-district and all-section selection. Bean was recruited by the coaching staff prior to Roberts' time, but with Utah's strong tradition and an attractive atmosphere, Bean remained committed, something she never regrets.
"Coming to this school has allowed me to find a home away from home amongst a great group of girls and forever friends," Bean said. "It has allowed me to receive an elite education while playing basketball at the highest level and against other elite athletes."
Bean, who plans to play basketball overseas professionally but also get her Master's in athletic training, is among those "elite" athletes in the Pac-12. The senior has ranked in the top-five in the league and top-30 in the nation in total assists and assists per game in the past two seasons and has also propelled herself into the top-five all-time at Utah in career assists.
Her game on the court has continued to improve each season, but Bean also looks at herself off the court as someone who has grown into a leader and a well-rounded person.
"I think I have grown in my leadership skills over the years," Bean said. "When I came here I was fairly shy and quiet, but in the past four years I have been pushed and challenged to be a leader by becoming more communicative, assertive and motivated."
Motivated is a word used to describe Provo as well, who came to Utah after spending her freshman season at Clemson in the ACC. The Dartmouth, Nova Scotia native averaged 15.1 minutes per game at Clemson, but knew in her heart that she needed a change and decided to withdraw from school and reopen her recruiting.
Jump to last season and Provo became one of the best three-point shooters in the Pac-12, ranking in the top-12 in both three-point percentage and three-pointers made per game. The Canadian connection may have drawn Provo to the University of Utah, but the experiences she has had on the court and off have made the decision one of the easiest of her life.
"Basketball means everything to me," Provo said. "I have been given so many opportunities because of this sport, it is unbelievable. It has allowed me to travel to 14 different countries to play the sport I love and it lets me get outside of myself and have fun."
Provo's basketball career has taken her from the ACC to Utah, to Team Canada and playing all over the world, something she is looking forward to continuing as a pro. Her season was cut short this year due to an injury against Arizona State in January when she was averaging 13.5 points per game, but she wouldn't trade her experience at Utah for anything.
"Utah basketball has meant so much to me," she said. "I got the opportunity to play the sport I love at the highest level in one of the top women's basketball conferences in the country but also get a great education to allow me to succeed in life."
Like Provo, getting a top-notch education was critical for Porter as she decided where she wanted to continue her academic and basketball career. The graduate transfer from UC Santa Barbara will only be with the Utes this season and has quickly made an impact on and off the court as an outstanding student and a lethal three-point shooter.
"My time here was short and while the adjustment was tough, I learned to embrace my new role of coming off the bench to knock down shots while also brining my four years of basketball experience to the court," Porter said. "I am in my Master's program of education in leadership and policy and I plan to study for my LSAT and hopefully take that by the end of this year and start applying to different law schools for the fall of 2020."
The Utes knew when recruiting Porter that she would fill an immediate roll as a three-point shooter and she hasn't disappointed. She ranks in the top-10 in the Pac-12 this season in three-point percentage and nearly broke the school record for threes in a game with her six against Seattle U earlier this season.
Porter's path to the Utes was a long one, starting her career at Ole Miss before transferring to UCSB where she was ranked in the top-15 in the Big West in three-point percentage her last two seasons. Although her path was long, she credits her family for helping her stay the course.
"My parents have been my guide every step of the way," she said. "My dad helped me throughout the recruiting process and I can always talk to him about school or basketball. My mom always did her best job to keep me on the right track, and the strength she has shown as a woman I have always tried to emulate. They both have always reminded me how proud they are of me."
Huff also attributes a lot of her success to her family, which was key in helping her decide to step away from being a two-sport athlete while at Hawaii. Huff, who was a standout volleyball and basketball player in high school, went to Hawaii to start her collegiate career in both.
The Federal Way, Wash., native was a two-time Big West Sixth Player of the Year in basketball for Hawaii, but knew her potential in basketball outweighed her love for volleyball. Huff transferred to Utah and after sitting out the 2016-17 season, she was ready to show what she could do in the best conference in the country.
In just two seasons, Huff has cracked the top-10 all-time at Utah in single-game points, single-season scoring average, career scoring average and career three-point percentage. She was first-team all-conference last season and through 25 games this year, she ranks in the top-five in the Pac-12 in scoring and rebounding and is second in double-doubles.
"I have grown completely as an individual since coming to Utah," she said. "I have been pushed in a lot of different situations to become better each day. The person I am today is a lot different than who I was when I first got here. I have matured in a lot of ways on and off the court and have learned how to deal with situations, and become stronger through situations, even when they push you to your breaking point."
Huff is currently a semifinalist for the Katrina McClain Award, given to the best power forward in the country, and also made the Naismith Midseason Team. Her success on the court over the past two seasons has been unmatched, but she can't help but focus on the memories she has made off the court as well.
"I loved the family atmosphere, the city and I believed in the coaching staff's vision for the program when I first committed here," Huff said. "Utah has been a place I have been able to meet so many new people and grow my family. Basketball has been something that has brought so many blessings into my life. Through basketball I have been able to find who I am." I don't think basketball necessarily defines me as a person, but the experiences through basketball and the people I have met are what make me who I am today."
From a young age, most collegiate basketball players, much like the Ute seniors, have a certain mindset instilled in them to persevere through all obstacles. With the final weekend of regular season home games looming for the Utes and just four regular season games remaining, that mindset will come into play in the coming weeks.
Olympian and WNBA star Sue Bird once said, "Never let fear of failing discourage you from trying." Whether it was tough losses, top-10 wins, or season-ending injuries, the Utah women's basketball seniors have set a precedence for future Utes to come – that having unrelenting determination is not an option.
"Utah basketball means loyalty, passion, family and to compete," Bean said. "These are the four values that make up the culture of our program. We consist of many types of individuals, but our bond makes us a family. We stand by one another and we are willing to fight at all costs with a desire for success because of our passion and love for the game of basketball."
Utah hosts Washington tomorrow in the Huntsman Center at 7 p.m. with Senior Day taking place against Washington State on Sunday at 12 p.m. MT.
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