Two games into the regular season, the Utah women’s basketball team will be playing an exhibition match tonight.
Sure, the schedule says the Utes’ matchup with Albertson College (of Idaho) is a full fledged regular-season affair, but after reaching the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament a year ago, taking on an opponent whose own slate includes such luminaries as Linfield College, Westmont College and Carroll College, constitutes little more than glorified practice time.
Though U coach Elaine Elliott would never say so, taking on the Coyotes in the third game of the year enables her Utes to work out a few of the kinks that plagued them in their weekend contests against Santa Clara and Butler.
To this point, Utah has been a bit lackadaisical with the ball, and has allowed the opponent too many free throw opportunities, according to the coach.
Consequently, opening the home schedule with a matchup versus a tiny Idaho school that more Utahns will associate with a grocery store does little more than give Utah a virtual freebie.
“It is only the second week of the season and we have to keep perfecting things and keep improving in order to be successful,” Elliott said.
Though the ‘Yotes (that’s what they call themselves) come in at a seemingly respectable 2-1, getting things in order against them shouldn’t prove too difficult for Utah, even if Albertson did go 26-7 last year and claim the Cascade Conference regular season title.
The ‘Yotes return seven letter-winners from that squad, most notably senior point guard Jeannie Thompson, a three-year starter poised to break the school’s all-time assists record sometime near mid-season.
The Utes have been led thus far by seniors Lauren Beckman and Erin Gibbons. Beckman, who became just the 17th player in the program’s history to notch 1,000 career points, is averaging 19.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. Gibbons is posting a team-high 20.5 ppg.
These teams have played but once in their respective histories, with the U claiming a rote 80-48 victory back on Nov. 25, 1998 in Salt Lake City.