The last time the U women’s basketball team was in a game that counted, the Utes were battling it out in overtime against Maryland in the Elite Eight.
But that’s in the rearview mirror now. A different batch of players-mostly youngsters-have inherited the team from All-Americans Kim Smith and Shona Thorburn, and they have every intention of keeping the winning tradition alive.
Led by sophomore shooting guard Morgan Warburton and senior point guard Heidi Carlsen, the Utes throttled Albertson College and Fort Lewis College by a total of 96 points in two exhibition games this week, giving fans a sneak preview of the team that has won the MWC championship six of the past seven years.
Without the dominating individual play of Smith and Thorburn, the Utes will look for others to fill the void.
“You got to find those people that are going to step up,” Warburton said. “If not, the whole team will (step up). I think that’s what this team is going to be like: Every game, someone else is going to step up.”
Warburton, who played quality minutes for the Utes as a freshman, scored 17 points and came away with four steals in the Fort Lewis game on Tuesday.
Another experienced player is Carlsen, who started 22 games last season alongside Smith and Thorburn. Carlsen connected on all three of her three-point attempts on Tuesday and is expected to be one of the players that will have a big impact on this team.
Jessica Perry, a 6-foot-3 junior center, is returning as the team’s most experienced player with 55 career starts. Perry averaged seven points and five rebounds last season.
Rounding out the starting lineup are Joh-Teena Filipe, a 6-foot-1 sophomore forward, and junior forward Marie Warner, who have both played limited minutes in their careers.
Kalee Whipple and Hennasea Tokumura, both freshmen, stood out in their first collegiate games.
Whipple, an athletic small forward, scored 12 points and grabbed six rebounds Tuesday.
At 5-foot-4, Tokumura is a small but quick point guard who played composed basketball in her first appearance.
Despite the uncertainty of a young team, head coach Elaine Elliott saw a lot that she liked in the two exhibition games.
“I like our energy, I like our depth, I like the enthusiasm and effort,” she said.
What she didn’t like was the Utes’ 21 giveaways.
“Turnovers is our first and most pressing problem,” she said.
The Utes hit the road to take on Gonzaga in Washington on Friday, and will play their first home game of the regular season Nov. 13 against Fresno State at the Huntsman Center.
Mike TerryUtah freshman Halie Sawyer goes up against three Albertson College opponents for a shot during an exhibition game at the Huntsman Center on Saturday. The Utes won 98-45.