For seven straight years, the U women’s hoops team has been conference champion, either via the regular season title or winning the postseason league tournament.
The former cannot happen this year and the latter looks increasingly improbable, but the Utes nevertheless are refusing to mail it in heading into their final two games of the season.
In spite of a brutal offensive performance last Saturday, in which they shot an abysmal 15 percent in the second half at BYU, the Utes have still won three of their last four, and look to make it four of five tonight when they take on the Aztecs in San Diego.
If their previous matchup is any indication, Utah (13-11, 6 6) ought to continue its late season surge against SDSU (10-15, 2-10).
Despite getting just 8 points apiece from top scorers Erin Gibbons and Lauren Beckman, the U drilled its SoCal opponent, 75-59, to snap a three-game skid.
Instead, the team got unlikely break-out contributions from reserve Carley Marshall (career-high 19 points) and small forward Lindsay Herbert (16 points after three straight games in single digits).
Coach Elaine Elliott will be hoping for similar all-around contributions again against the Aztecs.
Meanwhile, the Utes wind up their regular season Saturday against the MWC’s second place team, UNLV (21-4, 9-3).
The last time around, the Rebs came into the Huntsman Center and snared a 79-71 win on the effort of Linda Frhlich’s 26 points and 9 boards. Facing the reigning Conference Player of the Year (who is averaging 22.1 points and 10.5 rebounds, and is likely to repeat as the league’s top player) again is not something the Utes are looking forward to.
They are, however, getting geared up for the MWC Tournament, which will take place March 6 through 9 in Las Vegas. Though they will go in as severe underdogs, Elliott and her players feel like they are in prime position to do some damage to any team that might overlook them.