When Morgan Warburton proclaimed a few weeks ago that the U women’s basketball team’s goal was to go undefeated in MWC play, she might have seemed a bit optimistic — maybe a little too optimistic. After all, it’s not easy to win 16 games in a row, especially when that would mean beating nationally ranked Wyoming not once, but twice.
Well, halfway through the conference schedule, it’s starting to look as if Warburton knew something outsiders didn’t. Her statement is starting to seem more realistic now that the Utes are 8-0 in MWC play after playing every team once.
Round two gets underway Saturday when the No. 20 Utes, who are riding a 14-game winning streak — their longest since the 2000-2001 season — face Air Force at the Huntsman Center.
Five of Utah’s eight MWC contests have been on the road, which leaves the Utes with five home games and just three more road games in the regular season.
“We’ve really done a good job in the (first half of the conference schedule) as far as road games go,” head coach Elaine Elliott said. “Having said that, you have to perform when you go home. (There’s) not some formula sitting there that someone’s going to give to you so we have a lot of work ahead of us.”
Last time Utah and Air Force played, the Utes won 60-50 in Colorado Springs, Colo. Although the Falcons have a pretty dismal record, they are known for playing hard and making people work for wins.
“They’re very disciplined,” Elliott said of the Falcons. “The kids know no one plays harder than Air Force.”
After besting Colorado State on Jan. 23, Air Force has gone on a three-game losing streak with losses to BYU, TCU and SDSU. The Falcons’ best game during that stretch came against the Cougars who narrowly defeated Air Force by five points.
Fans wearing pink for breast cancer awareness get into Saturday’s game free.
Aaron SchwendimanLeilani Mitchell and the Utes begin round two of conference play when they face Air Force Saturday.