Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus Western Colorado (EXHIBITION) on October 27, 2025 at TBD
TBD
Women's Basketball
vs Western Colorado (EXHIBITION)
Sunday, December 29
Missoula, Mont.
8:00 p.m.
University of Utah
49
at
53
Lady Griz Holiday Classic - Montana
Utes Fall in Championship Game to Montana
12/29/2002 12:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 29, 2002
MISSOULA, Mont. - After defeating No. 14 Mississippi State last night, the University of Utah women's basketball team (8-2) fell to Montana 53-49 in the championship game of the Lady Griz Holiday Classic tonight, snapping the Utes' eight-game winning streak. The Utes shot a season-low 28 percent on the game and connected on 9-of-14 free throws (64 percent). Utah was also out-rebounded 43-32 by a much bigger Montana team. On a positive note, the Utes committed a season-low 10 turnovers and forced 18 by the Lady Griz.
Freshman Kim Smith and sophomore Shona Thorburn were both named to the all-tournament team, along with Hollie Tyler and Crystal Baird of Montana, LaToya Thomas of Mississippi State and Alex Gravel of Texas-Pan American. Smith averaged 17.0 points and 7.0 rebounds, while Thorburn finished with 19.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game during the tournament.
In the first half, Utah scored a season-low 17 points on 27 percent (7-of-26) from the floor. It was the first time all season that Utah has shot under 30 percent in the first half. More than half (nine) of the Utes' points came from three-pointers. During the first 5:30 of game, Utah only shot 18 percent (2-of-11), which allowed Montana to jump out to a 13-5 lead. The Utes cut the lead to as little as two late in the half, but Katie Edwards drained a trey late in the half as the shot clock expired to extend Montana's lead to seven.
Utah turned the ball over eight times on the half, but forced 11 Lady Griz turnovers. The Utes were out-rebounded 24-13 on the half, with the Lady Griz grabbing more defensive rebounds (16) than Utah's total.
In the second half, Montana built its lead to 11 early when its two post players, Hollie Tyler and Crystal Baird, proved too big for the smaller Utes and put junior Carley Marshall into foul trouble early. Marshall would eventually foul out of the game. Utah cut the lead to four on three occasions, but that would be as close as the Utes would get.
Smith and Thorburn finished with 16 points apiece. Smith also grabbed a team-high nine rebounds (six offensive), while Thorburn had six. Both played all 40 minutes of the both games in the tournament.
"We didn't come back well after a tough game last night," Head Coach Elaine Elliott said. "We couldn't manage things on the boards and we learned that we can't just settle for the perimeter game. We shot 30 threes tonight and we needed to penetrate on about 10 of those. Some of it was us and some was their size. We also struggled against their zone. We have to figure out a way for our kids to get better opportunities."
"Kim and Shona played 40 minutes back to back," she continued. "Our other players have to step it up. We need to get them some support."
UP NEXT:
The Utes travel to Ogden, Utah, to face Weber State at 7 p.m. next Saturday, Jan. 4. "Weber State is another team with a big, strong center," Elliott said. "That was obviously an issue tonight, so we'll have to address it."
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