Utes Complete Road Sweep With 78-66 Win At Washington State

Sunday, February 9

Pullman, WA

1:00 PM

University of Utah

12-11,5-7Pac-12

Washington State

11-13,4-8Pac-12

Utah

Washington St.

Utes Complete Road Sweep With 78-66 Win At Washington State

2/9/2020 3:25 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

PULLMAN, Wash. – The University of Utah women's basketball team completed the road sweep today in Beasley Coliseum, defeating the Washington State Cougars 78-66. The Utes improved to 12-11 overall and 5-7 in Pac-12 play.

It was a hot start for the Utes, shooting 58-percent from the floor and 60-percent from the arc in the first quarter. Utah ended the first quarter on a 22-2 run after being down 4-0 to start the game, forcing six turnovers in the quarter while holding the Cougars to just three made field goals.

Utah would lead by as many as 26 in the second quarter with Daneesha Provo (8 pts) and Brynna Maxwell (9 pts) combining for 17 of Utah's 24 points in the second quarter. Washington State was able to go on an 8-0 run at the end of the quarter, cutting the Utah lead to 18 points, but the Cougars would foul Julie Brosseau on a three with time expiring to push the Utes back up to a 21-point lead at halftime.

The Utes went on a 12-1 run in the third quarter to take a 32-point lead with 5:10 remaining in the period, holding the Cougars to just three points at that point in the quarter. The Cougars would go on another late run (7-0) to end the quarter, but the Utes would still take a 27-point lead into the fourth quarter.

Despite shooting 52-percent from the floor in the fourth, the Utes struggled offensively in the final period with the Cougars outscoring Utah 29-14. It would not be enough though, with the Utes completing the road sweep with the 78-66 win.

Utah finished the game shooting 51-percent from the floor, the fifth time this season that the Utes have shot over 48-percent as a team. Utah also shot 50-percent from the arc and 89-percent from the free throw line, holding the Cougars to just 37-percent shooting overall while forcing 12 turnovers and holding their two leading scorers to well below their averages.

?????????????? ??????????. Utah, 78. Washington State, 66. Heading back to SLC with 2? more Pac 12 wins. ??#GoUtes // #Elevate pic.twitter.com/88GREER6rr — Utah Women's Basketball (@UTAHWBB) February 9, 2020

LEADERS
Utah finished the game with two 20-point scorers, led by Maxwell. She wrapped up the game with 22 points, shooting 7-of-9 from the floor and 4-of-5 from the three, adding a perfect outing at the free throw line (4-4).

Provo added an even 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting, along with a 5-for-5 free throw performance. Lola Pendande also put together a strong performance with eight points and eight rebounds.

Ute better believe what you've seen. ??@brynnamaxwell and @DaneeshaProvo popped off with a combined 4??2?? points in @UTAHWBB's 78-66 win over WSU. pic.twitter.com/ybmgobfZRi — Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) February 9, 2020

TALKING ABOUT THE GAME: Head coach Lynne Roberts
"Any way that you can get it done at this point in this league in February, and a road sweep, is great. I thought for three and a half quarters, we were really great, and then we played a little casual the last six minutes. But I don't want to talk about that, I want to talk about the 34 minutes that we did play well."

"I was proud of the way we came out and defensively, we really set the tone. We played with some confidence and the ball was moving. It was just a really good road win. Washington State is good."

"I thought Daneesha on Chanelle Molina was the difference in the game. With Daneesha's length and quickness, she made her a non-factor and Molina is very good."

NOTABLE

Utah held Washington State to just six points in the first quarter, the second-lowest point total by an opponent this season. The Utes held UTSA to just four points in the first quarter on Nov. 24, 2019.
Maxwell finished the game with a team-high 22 points, leading the Utes in scoring for the ninth time this season. It was her fourth 20-point outing this season, all coming outside of the Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Provo scored 20 points in today's game, her first 20-point outing this year and a season-high. It was her sixth career 20-point game.
Utah held the No. 3 (Borislava Hristova) and No. 7 (Chanelle Molina) scorers in the Pac-12 to well below their averages today. Hristova entered the game averaging 18+ points and only scored 12 while Molina was averaging 15.7 and only scored three.

UP NEXT
The Utes return to the Jon M. Huntsman Center for a four-game home stand, starting with the second half of their series against the Bay Area schools. Utah will take on the Stanford Cardinal on Friday, Feb. 14 (7 p.m. MT) for its Valentine's Day game (wear red or pink, get in free), followed by the Utes' Power in Pink game on Sunday, Feb. 16 against California (wear pink, get in free).