Utah hosts Cal State Northridge this Thursday at the Huntsman Center and will look to remain undefeated on its home floor after dropping back-to-back games against Oklahoma and Boston College in the Junkanoo Jam last weekend.
The Utes were particularly juiced for their matchup with 21st-ranked Oklahoma, which Utah saw as a barometer for its progress thus far. Although they didn’t come away with the win, the Utes felt good about their play.
“That was a good ‘lace ’em up and play somebody great’ opportunity for us to see where we are,” said head coach Lynne Roberts. “We felt, players and staff included, that we always want to win, but we competed. Sometimes when you get beat but you compete, you still feel okay.”
Following another loss on Friday against a strong Boston College team, the Utes returned home 3-2 in the preseason.
“[We’re] just looking to get back on the home court and looking for a win again,” said senior Dani Rodriguez. “We’re going to try and win the rest of the preseason games until conference starts and take it one team at a time.”
Thursday’s matchup against Cal State Northridge is a prime example of a one-game-at-a-time type of contest. The Matadors come into the Huntsman Center reeling with a 1-6 record. They’ve dropped two in a row and will be hunting for a win against Utah.
But even though their opponent comes in with a lackluster record, the Utes’ approach to Thursday’s game remains the same.
“It shouldn’t change it,” Rodriguez said. “I didn’t even know they [only] had one [win] under their belt. But it shouldn’t change … They’re going to come out with a fire and a fight, like how we came out against Oklahoma, who is better than us, and right now, if we’re saying that we’re better than Cal State Northridge, we can’t look at that.”
Roberts echoed Rodriguez’ comments on how they prepare for their matchup against the Matadors, a familiar opponent to Roberts, who coached against CSUN in the Big West conference before coming to Utah.
“I’m very familiar with them,” Roberts said. “They’ve won the Big West the last two years in the regular season. They’re a good team. They play hard, they’re fearless. We don’t overlook anyone. We have to compete and improve. Thursday is no different.”
While the Matadors have struggled to find wins this season, they have some players who could pose serious threats to the Utes. Sophomore center Tessa Boagni has been solid around the rim this season, leading her team in scoring at 12 points per game. While Utah center Emily Potter will have the size advantage on Boagni, who stands at 6-foot-2 compared to Potter’s towering 6-foot-6, Boagni has the ability to stretch the floor and shoot the three, which would pull Utah’s defensive anchor away from the rim. Boagni has not shot the three-ball well yet this season but is shooting at least one shot from deep per game.
Sophomore forward Jordan Smith has given CSUN valuable minutes off the bench as well. All but five of her shots this season have come from behind the arc and she is shooting at a 47 percent clip from downtown. Watch to see how Utah deals with Smith and Boagni, and if the Utes choose to stay with a zone-defense, which usually concedes 3-point shots to the offense.
The Utes tip off against the Matadors at 7 p.m. MST.
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