After a tough road setback at TCU, the U women’s basketball team got back on track Wednesday night, knocking off the Wyoming Cowgirls 55-47.
“Coming off a loss, we really needed this win,” Utah guard Shona Thorburn said. “Psychologically, we needed to get our heads up, be more positive, and believe in ourselves, and I think that after tonight’s performance we will.”
Kim Smith led the Utes with 26 points and seven rebounds, while Thorburn turned in a strong all-around performance, scoring eight points while dishing out 10 assists and grabbing seven rebounds.
Smith and Thorburn scored the first 11 points for the Utes, as they jumped out to an early 11-5 lead, only to have the Cowgirls pull within one point at 19-18 with 3:26 remaining, but it would be the closest Wyoming would get for the rest of the night.
The Utes held a 23-18 lead at the half, and built their lead to 10 on two different occasions; as they cruised to their 14th win of the season.
It was a pivotal win for the Utes, due to trailing BYU, New Mexico, and TCU in the Mountain West Conference standings.
“I want our kids to feel like they’re that pinned up dog that someone’s teasing from outside, and you want out,” Elliott said. “Our backs are against the wall, and I want to see our kids have the mindset to just get after it.”
The Utes will get to have a crack at No. 18 New Mexico this Saturday, a team with which they’ve recently struggled.
“It’s a big game for us, we just didn’t play well the last time we played them,” Smith said. “We want to try to battle ourselves back into a race for a conference title.”
The teams will meet at 3 p.m. in the Huntsman Center.
Matt Patton