Sunday, March 19
Salt Lake City, UT
5:00 PM
University of Utah
27-4,14-3Pac-12
63
vs
56
Princeton
24-6,12-2Ivy League
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princeton | 12 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 56 |
| Utah | 20 | 12 | 14 | 17 | 63 |
Photo by: Hunter Dyke/Utah Athletics
Utah Downs Princeton 63-56 for Ticket to Sweet 16
3/19/2023 10:00 PM | Women's Basketball
SALT LAKE CITY – The University of Utah women's basketball advances to the Sweet 16 with a 63-56 win over Princeton on Sunday evening.
This is the third time in school history the Utes have made it to the Sweet 16. Utah made appearances in 2001 and 2006.
Utah started the game out strong, capturing a 20-12 lead at the end of the first quarter. Utah shot 66% from the field in the first quarter going 8-12. Utah then started the second quarter on a 7-2 run and pushed out for a 32-26 lead going into the half. Princeton narrowly outscored Utah in the second quarter 14-12.
It was the Utes free throw shooting ability's time to shine in the fourth quarter. Utah shot 13-19 from the line to keep the lead in favor of the Utes. Utah's final 11 points of the game came from the line and gave the Utes the 63-56 victory over Princeton.
LEADERS
Utah had two Utes score in double figures and were led by Alissa Pili who had 28 points and the game high rebounds 10 for a season high and her first double-double on the year. Pili went 8-13 from the field and 11-13 from the free throw line.
Jenna Johnson also had double figure scoring with 15 points. She also pulled down six rebounds.
COMPARISON
Utah ended the game shooting 39 percent from the field, six percent from beyond the arc, and 75 percent from the free throw line.
Princeton shot 28 percent from the field, 19 percent from the three and 73 percent from the free throw line.
Utah had a strong night in the paint outscoring the Tigers 32-18. Utah crashed the boards and pulled down 42 to Princeton's 39.
Alissa Pili has scored a combined 61 points in two games. The last time any Ute had two games with 20 or more points in an NCAA Tournament game was Kim Smith in 2003. Smith put up a combined 55 points in two games.
This is only the third time Utah has made it to the Sweet Sixteen and are looking for their second Elite 8 appearance in school history.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH LYNNE ROBERTS
"Thank you all for being here and being here all season. Crazy it's our last game at home. We went undefeated in the Huntsman Center and it's in large part to you covering our sport and covering our team and getting the crowds here. It matters, and I really appreciate it."
"I want to congratulate Princeton. I'm very impressed with them. That was hard. They are tough and you can see why they are such a good program. It's not just a good team this year. They are just a great program, well-coached, disciplined, physical, fearless. We just couldn't pull away."
"But man, I'm proud of our team, and we set out to do this a year ago. We lost in this game at University of Texas and the goal was to be able to host so that we could have that home-court advantage and they made a difference. They were loud today and it really does make an impact."
UP NEXT
The No. 2 seed Utes will take on No. 3 Louisiana State in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament Friday, March 24 in Greenville, South Carolina.
Follow the Utes!
Fans can follow along during the 2022-23 season on social media (Twitter: @UtahWBB | Instagram: @UtahWBB | Facebook: Facebook.com/UtahWBB).
This is the third time in school history the Utes have made it to the Sweet 16. Utah made appearances in 2001 and 2006.
Utah started the game out strong, capturing a 20-12 lead at the end of the first quarter. Utah shot 66% from the field in the first quarter going 8-12. Utah then started the second quarter on a 7-2 run and pushed out for a 32-26 lead going into the half. Princeton narrowly outscored Utah in the second quarter 14-12.
Utah lagged in the third quarter letting Princeton bring the score within two with just 1:00 minute remaining. Kennady McQueen sank a pair of free throws to give Utah a 46-42 lead going into the final quarter of action. The Tigers pounced on the boards in the third quarter out rebounding the Utes 15-7.AND ONE!@alissa_pili is in full beast mode. #GoUtes
— Utah Women's Basketball (@UTAHWBB) March 19, 2023
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??https://t.co/c8vZJmgQn4 pic.twitter.com/UZaBjV2TSG
It was the Utes free throw shooting ability's time to shine in the fourth quarter. Utah shot 13-19 from the line to keep the lead in favor of the Utes. Utah's final 11 points of the game came from the line and gave the Utes the 63-56 victory over Princeton.
LEADERS
Utah had two Utes score in double figures and were led by Alissa Pili who had 28 points and the game high rebounds 10 for a season high and her first double-double on the year. Pili went 8-13 from the field and 11-13 from the free throw line.
Jenna Johnson also had double figure scoring with 15 points. She also pulled down six rebounds.
COMPARISON
Utah ended the game shooting 39 percent from the field, six percent from beyond the arc, and 75 percent from the free throw line.
Princeton shot 28 percent from the field, 19 percent from the three and 73 percent from the free throw line.
Utah had a strong night in the paint outscoring the Tigers 32-18. Utah crashed the boards and pulled down 42 to Princeton's 39.
STAND OUT STATS??? "What a great time to be at the University of Utah." — Lynne Roberts
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) March 20, 2023
Sweet 16-bound @UtahWBB is one of many teams thriving in Salt Lake City right now. pic.twitter.com/aJHnZSdrnB
Alissa Pili has scored a combined 61 points in two games. The last time any Ute had two games with 20 or more points in an NCAA Tournament game was Kim Smith in 2003. Smith put up a combined 55 points in two games.
This is only the third time Utah has made it to the Sweet Sixteen and are looking for their second Elite 8 appearance in school history.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH LYNNE ROBERTS
"Thank you all for being here and being here all season. Crazy it's our last game at home. We went undefeated in the Huntsman Center and it's in large part to you covering our sport and covering our team and getting the crowds here. It matters, and I really appreciate it."
"I want to congratulate Princeton. I'm very impressed with them. That was hard. They are tough and you can see why they are such a good program. It's not just a good team this year. They are just a great program, well-coached, disciplined, physical, fearless. We just couldn't pull away."
"But man, I'm proud of our team, and we set out to do this a year ago. We lost in this game at University of Texas and the goal was to be able to host so that we could have that home-court advantage and they made a difference. They were loud today and it really does make an impact."
UP NEXT
The No. 2 seed Utes will take on No. 3 Louisiana State in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament Friday, March 24 in Greenville, South Carolina.
Follow the Utes!
Fans can follow along during the 2022-23 season on social media (Twitter: @UtahWBB | Instagram: @UtahWBB | Facebook: Facebook.com/UtahWBB).
Drive it home @KennadyMcqueen#MarchMadness x @UTAHWBB pic.twitter.com/s1eNEuR97Q
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) March 20, 2023
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballTeam Stats
PU
Utah
FG%
.278
.395
3FG%
.192
.067
FT%
.733
.757
RB
39
42
TO
13
20
STL
9
7
Game Leaders
Pts
28
FGM
8
3FGM
1
FTM
11
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
9
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
6
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
4
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