In their most recent preseason game, the University of Utah women’s basketball team headed back on the road to Eastern Washington University after three consecutive games at home. Utah is returning with a 95-51 victory over the Eagles.
The Utes went into this game off of their fourth straight non-conference victory with a 82-59 win over Idaho State University. Despite a shaky start to this game, the Utes were still able to run away with it.
Megan Huff was again the top scorer for the Utes in this game with 17 points, and senior Erika Bean played a complete game at point guard with eight points, along with seven rebounds and a handful of assists, steals and blocks to top it off.
Utah’s game in Washington was their second in three days, but the Utes pushed through it to move their record up to 5-0. The whole bench contributed to the final score, and overall, the team was 38-of-60 from the floor.
The team forced 19 turnovers overall and were led in points scored by Huff and freshman Dre’Una Edwards, who each had 19 points in the game. Huff also snagged 10 rebounds and earned her third double-double of the season.
On Monday, Edwards was named the Pac-12 freshman of the week for the second week in a row. This is the first time since joining the Pac-12 that Utah has earned this recognition twice in a row, and Edwards is the seventh freshman to earn the honor since 2011.
In their past games, Edwards averaged 11.5 points and eight rebounds. She shot 58 percent from the floor and held a 75 percent average on free throws. So far in the season, she has two double-doubles, and she is the only freshman in the Pac-12 as well as one of only 10 in the country to have earned this so far in the season.
In addition to the high scorers for the night, Daneesha Provo put up 14 points and went 7-for-9, and Erika Bean matched that with a season-high 14 points as well as seven rebounds and six assists in the game.
“I thought everybody contributed and everybody did a great job,” said head coach Lynne Roberts to Utah Athletics. “I thought our effort was great. It wasn’t a perfect performance but on the road to score 95 points and bounce back like that with so many young players playing, I am proud of that.”
Utah put on the pressure early in the game and they held a 16 point lead at the close of the first quarter. The Utes did not stop there as they continued to lay it on Eastern Washington, allowing just 10 points in the second quarter.
The second half of the game went well for the Utes, and Niyah Becker and Bean helped the team with their play. Becker scored five of her seven points during this quarter, and Bean contributed a handful of three-pointers to the score.
Utah stood their ground through the final quarter of the game and padded their lead to end the game with a 44 point victory over the Eagles.
The Utes will be back in Salt Lake City on Monday, Nov. 26 with a 7 p.m. tip-off to host Seattle University.
