Utah needed a bounce back after dropping two games to Syracuse and UConn. Matchups with Weber State and Montana allowed Gavin Petersen‘s team to do just that.
The University of Utah Women’s basketball team won two straight games last week, improving its record to 5-3 on the season. On Wednesday, Nov. 26, the Lady Runnin’ Utes beat Weber State 65-52. On Saturday, Nov. 29, the Utes dominated the Montana Lady Griz 78-38. These two games were a big bounce back from three straight losses.
“We really didn’t talk about going 0-3 in the last three games. We are a new team and a young team. There’s a lot of things we have to fix, but I think every game in the preseason is helping us get better. We don’t want to hit our max potential right now; we want to hit that in March. Losing three in a row is hard, but adversity like that is when you come together, and that’s when you grow. I feel like today was a great step in some aspects that we can take and keep moving forward,” said senior guard Maty Wilke following the Weber State win.
Game 1: Weber State
In the first quarter. Utah started with an 11-4 run on Weber State, and closed out the quarter up 17-10. Junior forward Chyra Evans scored 2 layups, Senior guard Lani White swished a three-pointer and a layup, and sophomore guard Brooke Walker hit a buzzer-beater three-pointer to end the quarter.
In the second quarter, senior guard Maty Wilke scored all nine of her points for the game, scoring three two-point baskets and a three-pointer to help the Utes stay in control. Freshman guard LA Sneed swished her first career three-pointer and scored a layup to finish with five points in the quarter. The Utes outscored the Wildcats 20-14 in the second quarter to take a 37-24 lead going into halftime.
Coming out of halftime, both teams went cold, scoring nine each. Evans scored five points, consisting of two layups and a free throw, to pace the Utes through a slow quarter.
To start the fourth quarter, freshman guard Avery Hjelmstad scored 10 points in the first 90 seconds. She was red hot, scoring two three-pointers, two free throws, and a pair of two-point baskets. From there, the Wildcats started to make a run back into the game, but the Utes were able to keep them at arm’s length and close out the game, winning 65-52.
Hjelmstad led the way in scoring with 12 points, while Wilke filled out the stat sheet with nine points, six assists, seven rebounds and three steals. Walker, Evans, Wilke and White all finished with nine points apiece. Senior forward Samantha Crispe chipped in with seven rebounds as well. Every player who touched the floor in this game for the Utes scored.
“Great win. We let the lead evaporate there in the fourth quarter. It was good that we were able to gain our composure back and get some stops to finish out the game. Credit to Weber State, they played hard the entire 40 minutes and did not waver. They had the courage and ability to take shots when down, and I wish them nothing but the best. I was really happy that we were able to respond when adversity hit in that fourth quarter,” said head coach Petersen following the game.
Game 2: Montana Lady Griz
In the first quarter of this game, junior forward Reese Ross started hot for the Utes, scoring a three-pointer and a free throw. Freshman forward Evelina Otto scored four points, Wilke hit two three-pointers and White hit a three-pointer to pair with a two-point jumper for five points. The Utes led the Montana Lady Griz 21-16 after the first quarter.
In the second quarter, White, Ross and Evans each had four points apiece to pace the Utes. Hjemstad hit a three-pointer, Crispe tipped in a rebound for two points, and Otto hit a jumper. The Utes pulled away in this quarter, going up 42-25 at halftime.
Coming out of halftime, the game turned into a blowout. The Utes continued to be red hot, while the Lady Griz struggled to get a good shot. At the end of the third quarter, the Utes had increased their lead to 25. White paced the Utes with six points, while Evans and Wilke each hit a three-pointer.
To close out the game in the fourth, the Utes went on a 19-4 run and won 78-38. The Lady Griz went very cold in the second half, scoring only 13 points in 20 minutes. White led the way, scoring 16 points, Evans and Wilke scored 11 apiece, and Otto scored 10 on 5/6 shooting from the field. The Utes shot 13/35 from three and 44.9% from the field. Sneed finished with four steals, a career high for the promising freshman.
Upcoming games
The Lady Runnin’ Utes were back in action on Dec. 4 on the road against the Colorado State Rams, Following that game, the team will have three straight home games against Boise State on Dec. 12, Northwestern on Dec. 14 and UC Riverside on Dec. 17. Conference play starts on Dec. 22 versus Arizona.
