After registering a win last weekend to start off the 2014 campaign, the Utes now have a loss to their name after dropping a close game at Creighton 64-56 on Thursday night.
Utah led 21-16 with 2:03 left in the first half, but the Blue Jays went on a 7-0 run to end the first slate and headed into halftime with a 23-21 lead.
The Utes would retake the lead with 11:39 remaining in the second half, but later would find themselves down eight points thanks to 13-4 run from Creighton. The Utes couldn’t bounce back from the eight-point deficit, as they ended up losing by the same difference in the end.
Despite the loss, Utah head coach Anthony Levrets was impressed with the team’s performance, other than the three-minute stretch in the second half that saw the Utes fell behind.
“We were good in most areas, we just had a time frame where we didn’t handle the changing defense,” Levrets said. “That cost us the game.”
Leading the way for the Utes was senior Taryn Wicijowski, who recorded her second straight double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds. The Blue Jays were led by reigning Big East Conference Player of the Year Marissa Janning, who had a game high 15 points. Both star players struggled shooting the ball, however, as they shot 5-for-26 and 5-for-18 respectively.
“We did a really nice job on her she’s a heck of a player,” Levrets said about defending Janning. “It’s the reason why it’s so disappointing to come out of there with a loss.”
Utah will finish up its road trip when it takes on No. 16 Nebraska in Lincoln on Sunday. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. MT.
 
[email protected]
@BenJasarevic